*     DEC15  1S08 


BV   4010    ,M4    1906 

Mead,  George  Whitefield, 

1865- 
Modern  methods  in  church 


TtTrvr-lr 


"A 


MODERN  METHODS 
IN    CHUECH   WORK 


MODERN  METHODS 

m    CHURCH   WORK 

BY  y 

REV.  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD  MEAD 

WITH  AN  INTRODUCTION 

BY 

REV.  CHARLES  L.   THOMPSON,  D.D. 

PRESIDENT   OF   THE    OPEN   AND   INSTITUTIONAL   CHURCH    LEAGUE 
UNITED    STATES    OF    AMERICA 


The  contribution  that  this  age  is  to  make  to  Christian  thought  is 
that  practical  Christianity  is  Christianity" 


NEW    YORK 

DODD,  MEAD  AND  COMPANY 

1906 


Copyright,  1896, 
By  Dodd,  Mead  and  Company. 


All  rights  reserved. 


John  Wilson  and  Son,  Cambridge,  U.S.A. 


IN    CARISSIMAM     MEMORIAM 

OF 

Mu  iFatfjer  nxia  Moiizx, 

WHOSE    LIVES   OF    PRAYER,    LOVE   OF   GOD,    AND    SERVICE    TO    MAN, 

HAVE    BEEN    LIFE'S    RICHEST    LEGACY   AND   AN    ABIDING 

INSPIRATION     IN     THE     WORK     OF 

THfi    KINGDOM. 


PKBFACE. 


In  the  preparation  of  this  work  my  thought  has  not 
been  to  magnify  works  above  grace,  but  my  theme 
has  been  limited  largely  to  that  which  bears  upon 
the  former  subject.  Yet  even  in  the  review  of  this 
part  of  the  work  of  the  Church,  in  the  light  of  the 
new  movement,  it  must  appear,  I  am  sure,  that  the 
spiritual  mission  of  the  Church  instead  of  being 
minimized  is  magnified,  made  supreme,  and  ex- 
tended even  to  the  influence  of  all  things  through 
the  dispensation  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

I  wish  to  express  my  obligation  to  those  ministers 
and  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Secretaries  and  other  Christian 
workers  who  have  aided  me  with  addresses  and 
information  relative  to  churches  and  denominations 
and  to  the  many  ministers  who  have  favored  me 
with  documents  and  information  relative  to  their 
Free  Pew  System,  men's  clubs,  and  other  depart- 
ments of  church  work,  the  review  of  whose  work, 
though  not  mentioned  for  want  of  space,  has  been 
an  inspiration  in  the  presentation  of  this  work. 
To  the  pastors  of   churches  whose   names  appear, 


PREFACE. 

I  am  indebted  for  the  information  which  has 
made  possible  the  helpful  mention  of  their  church 
work.  I  only  regret  that  it  has  been  necessary  so 
often  to  condense  the  reference  to  their  work  and 
methods  employed.  To  the  Eev.  Walter  Laidlaw, 
Ph.D.,  and  the  Eev.  Winthrop  Hageman,  Ph.D., 
who  kindly  placed  before  me  the  manuscript  copy 
of  the  report  of  the  Sociological  Canvass  of  the 
Fifteenth  Assembly  District,  New  York,  I  have  to 
offer  my  special  thanks.  I  would  also  make  grate- 
ful acknowledgment  of  the  helpful  assistance  of 
Mrs.  Laura  C.  Dunlap,  in  matters  of  tabulation 
and  the  arrangement  of  certain  material.  It  is 
with  regret  that  I  find  myself  unable  to  make 
such  mention  as  I  should  like  to  make  of  the 
painstaking  favors  which  I  have  received  from 
Christian  workers,  and  I  can  only  make  this 
general  acknowledgment,  and  express  my  deep 
obligation. 

G.  W.  M. 

New  York, 

December,  1896. 


V* 


CONTENTS. 


Chapter  Page 

Introduction xvii 

I.  Cardinal  Principles 1 

1.  New  era  in  church  and  Christian  work,     2.  Influence 

of  Christianity,  3.  Distinguishing  marks  of  the  new 
era  in  church  life  and  methods.  4,  The  Free,  the 
Open,  and  the  Institutional  Churches  illustrative  of  the 
new  movement,  5.  The  principles :  (1)  Evangelism, 
(2)  Consecration,  (3)  Ministration,  (4)  Adaptability, 
(5)  Extension,  (6)  Organization.  6.  The  recovery  of 
gospel  teaching. 

II,  The  Free,  the  Open,  and  the  Institutional 

Church 15 

1.  Discussion  of  the  name  Eree,  a.  Does  not  give  com- 
prehensive view  of  the  work,  6,  Misleading  in  con- 
veying the  idea  of  free  pews  only.  c.  Misleading  as 
suggesting  no  financial  obligation.  2,  Discussion  of 
the  name  Institutional,  a.  Cumbersome,  b.  Suggests 
undue  emphasis  on  organization,  c.  Eliminates  the  per- 
sonal idea.  d.  Awakens  prejudice  and  necessitates 
explanation,  e.  Stands  for  the  opposite  of  what  it  sug- 
gests, 3,  Discussion  of  the  name  Open,  a.  Lays  stress 
on  the  spirit  of  the  church,  h.  Expresses  figuratively 
the  true  idea.  c.  Calls  attention  to  the  importance  of 
daily  church  opening,  d.  Some  characteristics  of  the 
Open  Church,  4.  Summary,  —  no  one  name  entirely 
satisfactory.     This  not  a  misfortune. 

m.     The  Church-Members,  —  Where  are  they? — 

what  are  they  ? 22 

1.  The  church  should  be  concerted  in  work.  2,  Knowl- 
edge of  members  necessary.  3,  Church  rolls  and  rec- 
ords, 4.  Card  catalogue  explained,  5,  Communion 
cards,  6,  Annual  roll-caU.  7.  Visiting  staff,  different 
plans  in  several  churches.  8.  Teachers'  reports. 
vii 


CONTENTS. 

Chapteb  Pagh 

IV.    Reaching  People  outside  the  Church    .    ,      29 

1.  Need  of  knowledge  of  people  about  the  church.  2. 
Means  of  getting  such  knowledge.  I.  House-lo-house 
canvass,  a.  Facts  to  be  secured,  b.  How  inaugurated, 
c.  Records  and  directions,  d.  Disposition  of  the  results 
of  the  canvass,  e.  Remarks.  II.  House-to-house  visi- 
tation, a.  Some  methods  of.  b.  Results  of,  in  differ- 
ent places,  c.  Means  of  engaging  the  personal  interest 
of  church-members.  3.  Sociological  canvass  in  the  City 
of  New  York.    4.  Value  of  such  canvass. 


V.    Personal  Work 40 

1.  Need  for.  2.  List  of  non-church-members.  3.  Statis- 
tics of  growth  of  churches,  a.  Average  cost  of  converts 
in  leading  denominations  in  the  United  States,  b. 
Average  number  of  converts  to  a  church,  c.  Average 
number  of  church-members  to  a  convert,  d.  The  num- 
ber of  churches  reporting  no  converts  after  a  whole 
year's  work.  4.  Workers'  training-class.  5.  Win  One 
Circles.  6.  Workers'  Handbook.  7.  Enlistment  card. 
8.  Silent  evangelism.  9.  Evangelistic  Sunday-school 
work. 


VI.  Reaching  Strangers  at  the  Services     .     .      58 

1.  Number  of  strangers.  2.  Need  of  welcome.  3.  Pas- 
tor's   welcome.     4.    Officers'   welcome,     5.   Pew   cards. 

6.  Letters  and  calls  to  follow  signatures  to  pew  cards. 

7.  Pulpit   reception.     8.    Reception  in  rear  of  church. 
9.  Reception  committee.     10.  Vestibule  committee. 

VII.  Ushers'  Association 68 

L  Importance  of  the  usher.  2.  Importance  of  ushers' 
associations.  3.  Plan  of  the  Ushers'  Association  of 
Grace  Baptist  Church  and  of  the  Hollond  Memorial 
Church,  Philadelphia     4-  Testimony  as  to  value. 

Vm.    The  Choir 71 

1.  Different  kinds  of  church  music.  2.  Some  choirs  in 
different  churches.  3.  Character  of  church  musicians, 
4.  Prayer  for  the  choir. 

viii 


CONTENTS. 
Chapteb  Paok 

IX.  The  Men's  Sunday-Evening  Club    ....      76 

1.  The  problem  of  using  and  interesting  the  men  of  the 
church.  2.  The  Men's  Sunday-Evening  Club  solves 
that  problem.  3.  Model  constitution.  4.  Elements  of 
strength  in  the  Club.  a.  Stands  for  a  definite  object. 
h.  Equalization  of  labor  and  responsibility,  c.  Develops 
the  feeling  of  fraternity,  d.  Emphasizes  the  social  side. 
5.  Work  in  the  Sunday-evening  services.  6.  Organi- 
zation of.    7.  Results  of,    8.  Extracts  from  testimonials. 

X.  The  Sunday-Evening  Service 91 

1.  Failure  of.  2.  Some  variations  in.  a.  Musical  ser- 
vice. 6.  Liturgical  service,  c.  Brookfield  service,  d. 
Special  night  service,  e.  Special  series  of  sermons. 
/  Illustrated  service,  (a)  Object,  {h)  Pictures,  (c) 
Stereopticon  views,  g.  Special  features,  (a)  The  Sun- 
day-evening service  in  Rochester,  N.  Y.  (6)  The  Prel- 
ude, (c)  Sunday-evening  service  in  Dr.  Chapman's 
Church,  Philadelphia. 

XL     The  After  Meeting 104 

L  Value  of.  2.  Successful  features,  a.  Held  in  adjoin- 
ing room.  h.  Invitation  to.  c.  Music.  3.  Different 
kinds  of,  and  hints  for  conducting,  a.  General  partici- 
pation, h.  Spiritual  quickening  of  Christians,  c.  Ap- 
peal to  the  unconverted,  d.  Formal  people,  e.  Char- 
acter of  leader.  /.  Close  on  time.  4.  Intermitting  the 
after  meeting. 

XII.  The  Pleasant  Sunday  Afternoon     .     .     .     Ill 

1.  Leisure  hour  of  working-men.  2.  How  conducted  in 
England,  a.  Programmes,  h.  Music,  c.  Leader,  d. 
Committees,  e.  Prizes.  3.  Salient  features  of.  4.  Prin- 
ciples of.     5.  Movement  in  this  country. 

XIII.  Young  People's  Societies 118 

L  Importance  of.  2.  Future  work  of.  3.  The  three 
principal  Young  People's  Societies.  4.  Committees  of 
the  Young  People's  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor.  5. 
Departments  of  the  Epworth  League  and  the  Baptist 
Young   People's    Union.      6.    Reading-Circles    of    the 


CONTENTS. 
Chaptee  Paqb 

Epworth  League.  7.  Christian-culture  courses  in  the 
Baptist  Young  People's  Union.  8.  Work  of  the  Young 
People's  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor.  9.  Dr.  Clark's 
"  Ways  and  Means." 

XIV.  The  Prayer  Meeting 122 

1.  A  much-discussed  subject.  2.  Welcome  for  new  ideas. 
3.  Plans  of  different  pastors  to  secure  attendance  and 
participation.  4.  The  family  idea  of.  5.  Special  points. 
a.  Music.  6.  Topics,  c.  Missionary  concerts,  d.  Shall 
women  take  part  ?  e  Leader.  6.  Social  gathering  at 
the  close.  7.  Concluding  remarks,  a.  Commencing  on 
time.  b.  Preparation  of  the  leader,  c.  Plainness  of 
dress. 

XV.  The  Cottage  Prayer  Meeting 130 

1.   Reasons  for   holding  such    meetings.     2.  A  cottage 

prayer  meeting  in  New  York.  Results  of.  .3.  How 
carried  on.     4.  The  plan  of  the  churches  of  Oberlin,  0. 

5.  A  return  to  the  ways  of  the  early  Church. 

XVI.  Open-Air  Preaching 133 

L  Early  examples  of.  2.  Work  in  England.  3.  Work  in 
this   country.     4.   Tent   meetings.     5.    Gospel   wagons. 

6.  Gospel  push-carts,  7.  Work  of  this  kind  by  the 
country  church. 

XVII.  Chapels  and  Missions 138 

1.  Need  for.  2.  Religious  services  of.  a.  Speakers,  h. 
Methods  of  conducting,  c.  Enrolment  cards.  3.  Ex- 
penses of.  a.  Lay  speakers,  h.  Officers  of  the  home 
church,  c.  Societies.  4.  The  Buffalo  plan.  5.  Must 
make  use  of  lay  workers. 

XVni.    Country  Evangelization 147 

L  Value  of  the  institutions  of  the  country.  2.  Need  of 
Christian  work  in  the  country.  3.  "  Stations."  a.  Out- 
line of  work.  h.  How  organized.  4.  Home  department 
of  the  Sunday-school.  5.  How  begin  the  work  of 
country  evangelization,  a.  Revival  meetings,  h.  Or- 
ganization of  stations,  c.  House-to-house  canvass.  6. 
The  missionary  spirit  a  condition  of  spiritual  blessing 
X 


CONTENTS. 
Chapteb  Fagb 

XIX.  Men's  Clubs 154 

I.  Comprehensive  society.  1.  Need  of.  2.  Westminster 
Club  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  a.  Plan  of.  b.  Results.  3. 
Men's  Society  of  the  Church  of  the  Covenant,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.     II.  Laboring-men's  clubs.     1.  Need  for. 

2.  Examples  of,  and  features  of.  3.  The  Christian  In- 
dustrial League. 

XX.  Reaching  and  Holding  Young  Men   ...    162 

1.  Increasing  interest  of  young  men  in  church  work.  2. 
Means  of  reaching  them.  I.  Brotlierhood  of  St.  Andrew. 
a.  Organization,  b.  Work.  II.  Brotherhood  of  An- 
drew and  Philip,  a.  Committees,  b.  Work.  III.  Ailing 
Class,  a.  Duties  of  officers,  b.  Work  of  class,  c.  Mr. 
Wanamaker's  record  plan.  d.  Other  like  classes.  IV. 
Young  men's  clubs,  a.  Need  of.  b.  How  to  conduct. 
V.  Annual  Suppers. 

XXI.  Athletics 177 

L  Interest  in.  2.  Value  of.  3.  Purifying  effects  of  Chris- 
tianity on  athletics.  4.  Need  for  physical  improvement. 
5.  Gymnastics.  6.  Athletics  as  an  amusement.  7,  Bi- 
cycle-riding a  source  of  Sabbath-breaking.  8.  The 
opportunity  of  the  Church. 

XXII.  Church  Libraries,  Reading-Eooms,   Lit- 

erary Societies,  and   Entertainment 
Courses 184 

XXin.     Teaching  by  Means  of  Classes      .    .    .     194 

1.  Need  of.     2.  Way  to  be  undertaken  by  the  church. 

3.  How  carried  on.  a.  Educational  classes,  b.  Night 
schools,    c.  Colleges  under  the  charge  of  the  church. 

4.  Winter-night  college,  a.  How  inaugurated,  b.  How 
conducted.     5.  The  church  in  relation  to  culture. 

XXIV.    Women's  Work 200 

1.  Value  of.  2.  Branches  of.  3.  Some  examples  of  com- 
prehensive women's  societies.    4.   Missionary  societies. 

5.  Aid  societies.  6.  A  model  Women's  Society.  7.  The 
Helping  Hand.  8.  Work  in  country  churches.  Mrs. 
Frost's  work  in  Berea,  Ky.  9.  Self-denial  the  basis  of 
women's  work. 


CONTENTS. 

ChAPTEB  Pj^qjI 

XXV.  Work  with  Girls  and  Young  Women      .     207 
1.   Work  of  Rev.  F.  B.  Meyer,  B.  A.,  London,  with  young 

women.  2  Young  Women's  Aid  Society.  3.  Young 
Women's  Missionary  Societies.  4.  Fresh-air  work  by 
young  women.  5.  Some  societies  of  young  women, 
a.  Young  Women's  Temperance  Union,  b.  Daughters 
of  the  King.  c.  King's  Daughters  and  Sons,  (a)  The 
work  of  the  different  circles. 

XXVI.  The  Social  Problem  of  the  Church      .    216 
1.  Mary  and  Martha  League,  a.   Necessity  for  such  a 

society,  b.  Constitution  of.  c.  Work  of  its  committees. 
d.  Monthly  meeting,  e.  Special  features  of.  /.  The 
president  of.  2.  Church  socials,  a.  How  to  make  attrac- 
tive, b.  Some  special  forms  of.  3.  The  "  Shawmut 
Church  Evenings  at  Home,"  plan  of.  4.  The  real  value 
of  social  life. 

XXVIL    The  Children  of  the  Church  ....    226 

1.  Great  importance  of  education  of  the  youth.  2.  Agen- 
cies.for  working  with  children,  a.  The  Sunday-school 
special  days.  b.  Sermons  to  children,  outlines  of  sermons. 
c.  Children's  societies,  children's  service  of  song.  d. 
Missionary  work  for  children,  stamp  albums,  temperance 
cards. 

XXVm.     The  Sunday-School 235 

L  Dr.  A.  F.  Schauffler's  "  Ways  of  Working."  2.  Rev- 
Carlos  Tracy  Chester's  "  Sunday-school  Ways  of  Work- 
ing." 3.  Ways  of  securing  attendance  employed  by  dif- 
ferent churches.  4.  Reports  of  Sunday-schools,  a.  Used 
to  indicate  the  spiritual  condition  of  the  classes.  5.  Used 
to  find  facts  about  the  children's  families.  5.  Home  de- 
partment of  the  Sunday-school.  6.  Teachers'  meeting. 
7.  Normal  classes.  8.  Suggestions  of  Rev.  E.  P. 
Armstrong. 

XXIX.    Lectures  to  Boys  only 242 

L  Need  of,  not  realized.  2.  Lectures  to  men  only,  come 
too  late  in  life.  3.  Objections  to,  answered.  4.  Reasons 
for.  a.  To  counteract  evil  influences,  b.  To  keep  them 
from  being  entrapped,  c.  To  restrain  them  through  the 

xii 


CONTENTS. 
Chapter  ^a«» 

knowledge  of  the  consequences  of  transgression.  5.  The 
White  Cross  Society  and  the  Silver  Cross  Society,  a. 
Pledges  of. 

XXX.  The  Boys'  Club 249 

1.  Anecdote  of  twin  brothers.  2.  Need  of  work  for 
boys.  3.  The  Boys'  Club.  4.  Plan  of  conducting.  5. 
Outings.  6.  Membership  ticket.  7.  Results  of.  8.  Other 
kinds  of  clubs,  a.  Military.  6.  Temperance,  c.  Harry 
Wadsworth,  or  Lend-a-hand  clubs. 

XXXI.  The  Boys'  Brigade 255 

1.   When  organized.    2.   Meetings  of.    3.   Special  points.    . 
a.   Headquarters,    h.  Officers,    c.  Uniforms.    4.  Benefit 
to  the  boy.    a.   Mental  and  Moral,   h.   Physical.   5.  Ob- 
jections to,  answered.     6.   The  boys  for  Christ. 

XXXII.  Industrial  Classes 261 

1.  Importance  of  industrial  training  as  an  educator. 
2.  Some  things  that  may  be  undertaken  by  the  church. 
I.  Carpentering-classes.  a.  Leader,  h.  Use  of  simple 
materials,  c.  Sloyd  system.  11.  Kitchen-garden,  a. 
Outline  of  plan.  h.  What  is  taught,  c.  Value  of.  d. 
How  carried  on.  III.  Cooking-classes,  a.  Bad  cooking 
a  promoter  of  intemperance,  of  waste,  of  extravagance. 
6.  Remedy  found  in  cooking-classes  for  women,  for  chil- 
dren, c.  Expenses  of.  d.  How  carried  on.  IV.  Sewing- 
classes,  a.  Value  to  all  classes  of  a  knowledge  of  sewing. 
h.  Requisites  for  a  sewing-class,  c.  Outline  of  work. 
d.  Benefit  of  sewing-classes. 

XXXIII.  Day  Nurseries  and  Kindergartens     .    273 

1.  Day  nurseries,  a.  Necessity  for.  h.  Working  plan, 
c.  Sunday  nurseries.  2.  Kindergartens,  a.  Value  of. 
h.  Some  points  concerning,  c.  Applied  to  Sunday-school 
teaching. 

XXXIV.  Temperance  Work 278 

1.   Knotty  problem  of.    2.  Three  kinds  of    temperance 

work.    I.   Educational,   a.  Temperance   Society   of  the 

Brick  Church  of   Rochester,  N.  Y.   h.   Work  in  other 

churches,     c.  Scientific  instruction,  cooking-classes,  etc. 

xiii 


CONTENTS. 
Chaptee  Pagb 

II.  Prevention.  (1)  Substitute  for  the  saloon,  a.  So- 
cial amusements,  b.  Temperance  refreshments,  coffee- 
houses, drinking-houses,  etc.    (2)  Temperance  legislation. 

III.  Rescue,  a.  Need  for.  b.  Work  in  St.  Bartholo- 
mew's Mission,  New  York.  c.  How  to  organize  and 
carry  on  rescue  work.  d.  Co-operative  Rescue  Mission. 
3.  Influence  of  temperance  upon  the  church. 

XXXV.  Healing 286 

1.  Duty  of  the  church  to  care  for  the  sick.  2.  Medical 
missionaries.  3.  Free  dispensaries.  4.  Church  hospi- 
tals. 5.  Sick  committees.  6.  Order  of  deaconesses 
and  private  deaconesses.  7.  Diet  kitchens.  8.  Unoffi- 
cial care  of  the  sick  by  the  church. 

XXXVI.  Relief  Work 292 

1.  This  work  binding  on  the  church.  2.  Need  for  dis- 
crimination. 3.  Church  laundries,  wood-yards,  and  tailor- 
shops.  4.  Employment  bureaus.  5.  Boarding-houses. 
6.   Coal  Club.     7.   Legal  and  medical  advice. 

XXXVII.  Beneficiary  and  Loan  Associations, 

AND  THE  Penny  Provident  Fund    .    296 

a.  Shall  the  church  undertake  ?  1.  Beneficiary  Associa- 
tion, o.  Churches  in  Philadelphia,  testimonials  of  pas- 
tors as  to  value.  2.  Loan  Association  of  the  Church  of 
St.  Bartholomew,  New  York,  and  the  Provident  Loan 
Society,  New  York.  3.  The  Penny  Provident  Fund. 
a.   Working  of.   6.  Value  of. 

XXXVm.    The  Plural  Pastorate 303 

1.  Need  for,  the  Scriptural  idea.  2.  Co-pastorates  unsuc- 
cessful. 3.  Different  plans  for  plural  pastorates.  4.  The 
relationship  of  the  pastors.  5.  Lay  assistant.  6.  Strength 
in  numbers. 

XXXIX.    The  Free-Pew  and  Voluntary-Offering 

System 307 

1.  Advantages  of  the  pew-rental  system.  2.  Meaning  of 
the  free-pew  plan.  3.  The  pew-rental  system  not  the 
supplanted  system,  but  the  supplanter.    4.    Advantages 

xiv 


CONTENTS. 
Chatteb  Paob 

of  the  free-pew  system.  (1)  Claims  all  the  advantages 
without  any  of  the  disadvantages  of  the  pew-rental  sys- 
tem. (2)  Claims  advantages  over  the  pew-rental  system. 
a.  More  in  accord  with  Scriptural  ideal.  6.  Increases 
revenue  of  the  church,  c.  Avoids  social  distinctions. 
5.  Eesults  of.  6.  Growth  of.  7.  Voluntary  offering. 
a.  How  conducted,  b.  Vestibule  record  card.  6,  How 
to  substitute  the  free-pew  plan  for  the  pew-rental 
system. 

XL.  Church  Programmes,  Year-Books,  Bulletins, 
Vestibule  Cards,  Papers,  Letters,  and 
Advertising 317 

XLL    Church  Architecture 326 

1.  New  Methods  of.  2.  The  Pilgrim  Congregational 
Church  of  Cleveland,  O.  3.  Arrangement  of  other 
churches.  4.  Parish-houses.  5.  Roof-gardens.  6.  At- 
tention to  details.    7.  Need  of  the  best  that  art  can  give. 

XLII.    Mobilizing  the  Work 330 

1.  The  individual  church.  1.  Danger  in  the  multiplica- 
tion of  societies  in.  2.  Pastor's  council  or  cabinet. 
a.  How  carried  on.  b.  Value  of.  3.  Reference  to 
women's  work.  II.  Mobilizing  the  work  of  the  churches 
in  the  community,  a.  Need  of,  6.  The  plan  of  the 
Evangelical  Alliance,     c.  Importance  of. 

XLin.    Results  of  the  New  Methods 336 

1.  Success  of  the  new  methods.  2.  Different  conditions 
demand  different  methods,  3,  Testimonials  as  to  success. 
4.  Comparative  statistics,  a.  A  church  compared  with 
itself,  under  the  old  and  the  new  methods,  b.  Several 
Congregational  churches  compared  with  the  whole 
Congregational  Church  in  the  United  States.  5.  The 
results  commend  the  methods. 

XLIV.  The  Inspiration  of  the  New  Movement 
and  the  Realization  of  the  King- 
dom     345 


XV 


INTEODUCTION. 

By  CHARLES  L.  THOMPSON,  D.D. 

This  book,  is  timely.  It  speaks  to  an  opportunity. 
An  intelligent  discussion  of  the  best  methods  of 
church  work  is  one  of  the  strongest  needs  of  the 
times.  It  is  often  said  that  what  the  Church  needs, 
to  secure  her  purity  and  progress,  is  to  get  back  to 
Christ.  There  is  a  truth  in  this,  although  it  is  some- 
times over-stated.  We  have  some  inheritance  of  mis- 
takes in  the  theology  of  the  fathers,  and  it  would 
doubtless  advance  the  simplicity  of  theological  state- 
ment and  conduce  to  the  unity  and  harmony  of  the 
Church,  if  we  would  be  content  to  express  truth  in  the 
divine  simplicity  which  marked  his  words.  But  we 
have  departed  from  the  simplicity  of  the  early  Church 
quite  as  much  in  the  principles  and  methods  of  church 
work  as  in  the  forms  of  theological  statement.  The 
simple  ways  of  apostolic  times  have  very  much  been 
lost  sight  of  in  the  modern  administration  of  church 
affairs.  Both  in  the  principles  of  Christian  life  and 
in  our  ways  of  expressing  them,  we  have  gone  a  long 
way  from  the  early  Church,  and  without  any  sharp 
sense  of  our  departure. 

Christ  himself  organized  no  church.     From  him  we 

get  the  foundations  of  religious  belief,  for  he  was  a 

religious  teacher.     But  we  cannot  get  from  his  words 

or  example  an  illustration  of  the  divine  order  of  Chris- 

xvii 


INTRODUCTION. 

tian  service  as  developed  in  an  organization.  To  be 
sure,  the  germs  of  Christian  life  are  all  to  be  found  in 
what  he  said  and  did.  But  we  must  look  to  the  lives 
of  the  apostles  and  of  Christ  for  an  exemplification  of 
the  principles  they  received  from  the  Master.  Their 
hands  had  touched  the  hand  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  in 
considering  the  life  and  ways  of  the  early  Church,  we 
are  as  near  to  Chi-ist  in  organic  church  life  as  it  is 
possible  to  get.  Christ  promised  to  his  disciples  the 
guidance  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  organizing  the  Church. 
They  sought  that  guidance  and  yielded  themselves  to 
the  promised  direction  and  control. 

The  Acts  of  the  Apostles  is,  therefore,  a  hand-book 
of  Christian  life  and  work,  to  which  we  must  look  as 
expressing  the  mind  of  Christ  himself.  At  the  same 
time  we  must  not  forget  that  it  was  also  a  develop- 
ment. Its  essential  principles  were  immutable  ;  but 
its  methods  easily  took  form  and  color  from  their  sur- 
roundings. In  general,  we  may  say  the  Apostolic 
Church  consisted  less  in  definite  forms  of  thought  or 
systems  of  administration  than  in  a  certain  great 
spirit  which  enabled  its  members  to  mould  it  to  the 
necessities  of  the  times  and  to  give  themselves  without 
stint  to  its  service,  and  die  without  hesitation  for  its 
extension.  In  the  second  chapter  of  that  book,  four 
great  characteristics  of  the  Apostolic  Church  are  given 
to  us  in  the  familiar  words,  "  They  continued  stead- 
fastly in  the  apostles'  doctrine  and  fellowship,  and  in 
the  breaking  of  bread,  and  in  prayer."  Here  are  four 
great  truths  on  which  as  on  four  piUars  the  early 
Church  rested :  love  of  truth,  love  of  one  another,  fre- 
quent remembrance  of  Christ,  and  constant  prayer. 
These  are  the  changeless  factors  of  the  church  life. 
Now  when  we  think  how  the  primitive  Church  lived  on 
these  truths  with  joy  and  gladness,  and  died  for  them 
xviii 


INTRODUCTION. 

in  triumph,  and  when  by  contrast  we  consider  how 
formal  and  spiritless  a  thing  modern  church  life  fre- 
quently is,  we  cannot  but  be  impressed  that  there  has 
been  a  departure  from  the  divine  ideal,  and  that  it  will 
be  only  by  a  struggle  that  the  Church  will  get  back  to 
the  power  of  those  truths  as  they  inspired  those  lowly 
disciples.  The  power  of  the  truth  is  measured  by  its 
effects.  So  measured,  these  truths  are  seen  to  be 
almighty.  It  was  a  time  when  all  God's  people  were 
God's  priests,  when  there  was  no  proxy  service  of  one 
for  another,  when  all  men,  women,  and  children  held 
themselves,  as  under  personal  obligations,  to  give 
themselves  for  Jesus  Christ.  The  spirit  of  sacrifice 
was  not  the  privilege  of  the  few,  but  was  for  a  time 
the  common  heritage  of  all  the  people  of  the  Lord. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  this  book  to  hold  these  cardinal 
principles  in  strong  light  and  to  show  how  the  Church 
of  to-day  has  peculiar  opportunity  for  translating  them 
into  a  service  somewhat  akin  to  the  noble  service  of 
the  Apostolic  Church.  Thus,  for  example,  this  book 
lays  stress  on  church  co-operation  or  the  unity  of  the 
Church,  in  that  it  carries  our  thought  back  to  the  unity 
of  the  early  Church,  one  of  whose  first  articles  was  this, 
"  the  people  were  together."  That  should  be  as  true 
to-day  as  it  was  eighteen  centuries  ago.  The  distin- 
guishing mark  of  the  Church  of  Christ  is  found  in  the 
simple  fact  that  her  members  are  believers  in  the  person 
and  teaching  of  Jesus  Christ.  The  Church,  therefore, 
is  not  a  company  of  people  organized  on  congenial 
social  lines ;  it  is  not  a  school  compacted  on  theolo- 
gical lines;  it  is  not  a  club  banded  together  to  do 
benevolent  work.  The  bond  that  binds  them  is  the 
bond  of  Christian  faith ;  it  is  communion  of  faith,  and 
it  is  as  strong  as  the  power  of  Him  on  whom  that  faith 
rests.     Recent  studies  in  church  history  have  disclosed 

xix 


INTRODUCTION. 

the  fact  that  the  unity  of  the  churches  of  the  first  cen- 
tury consisted  not  in  the^identity  of  the  organization, 
but  in  a  common  faith  and  love.  The  germs  of  the 
different  organizations  of  to-day  may  all  be  found  in 
apostolic  or  sub-apostolic  times.  Varying  forms  of 
government  did  not  then  prevent  unity  of  life  and 
service.     They  should  not  do  so  now. 

Another  characteristic  of  the  early  Church  was,  that 
they  had  all  things  in  common.  That  does  not  mean 
communism.  It  only  means  that  believers  held  all 
possessions  as  the  stewards  of  Christ,  ever  ready  to 
distribute  according  to  the  necessities  of  his  people 
and  his  kingdom.  In  harmony  with  this  idea  it  is 
one  purpose  of  this  book  to  declare  that  the  commercial 
spirit  should  not  rule  in  the  house  of  God,  and  that 
distinctions  between  rich  and  poor  are  not  in  harmony 
with  the  mind  of  the  Master  or  the  practice  of  the 
early  disciples.  The  right  use  of  money  is  one  of  the 
living  questions  in  the  administration  of  church  affairs. 
In  these  days,  when  tremendous  wealth  is  in  the  hands 
of  God's  people,  what  results  might  be  anticipated  if 
the  spirit  of  the  consecration  of  property  ruled  them 
as  it  ruled  the  early  Church ! 

The  chapters  of  this  book  which  insist  that  the  prop- 
erty of  the  church  should  be  in  daily  and  common  use 
for  church  work  illustrates  that  article  of  the  Apostolic 
Church  which  says  that  they  ' '  continued  daily  with  one 
accord  in  the  temple."  The  temple  then  was  a  far 
more  sacred  building  than  any  of  our  modern  churches 
are,  but  at  the  descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost  the  temple 
doors  were  flung  open.  Henceforth  it  was  not  to  be  a 
place  of  occasional  resort,  but  an  every-day  home,  its 
doors  open  every  day,  and  every  day  thronged  by  those 
who  gathered  there  to  meet  each  other  and  meet  the 
Lord.     That  does  not  mean  that  there  should  be  public 


INTRODUCTION". 

services  constantly;  but  it  means  that  Christianity 
should  be  so  active  that  its  central  gathering-place 
should  manifest  that  activity,  as  closed  doors  and 
darkened  windows  cannot  do.  If  the  Church  is  a  light- 
house, its  light  should  be  burning  every  day ;  if  a  rescue 
iBtation,  its  boats  should  be  manned  every  day;  if  a 
school,  its  classes  should  be  open  every  day;  if  a 
temple,  its  altar  should  be  accessible  every  day. 

The  church  building  should  be  the  centre,  but  it 
should  not  be  the  circumference,  of  Christian  activity. 
The  diffusion  of  Christian  activity  throughout  the  com- 
munity is  expressed  in  that  article  of  the  early  Church 
which  says,  the  disciples  "  were  breaking  bread  from 
house  to  house. "  Their  life  was  an  evidence  of  Christ's 
words  of  commission  to  his  people,  "  I  send  you  forth." 
If  the  Church  has  healing  power,  let  her  go  to  the  sick ; 
if  comforting  power,  let  her  be  as  an  angel  to  the  sor- 
rowing ;  if  lifting  power,  let  her  find  those  who  have 
fallen.  The  Church  must  not  stand  and  beckon ;  she 
must  "go."  Her  ministry  should  be  as  penetrating  as 
human  misery  and  as  comprehensive  as  the  pity  of 
God ;  and  her  members  should  be  swift  to  seek  and  to 
save  that  which  is  lost,  —  lost  anywhere  and  in  any 
sense.  The  church  which  would  be  true  to  the  princi- 
ples which  Christ  announced  and  the  example  he  set 
must  ferret  out  human  sin,  sorrow,  and  ignorance  and 
bring  them  to  the  light  of  the  truth  which  she  possesses. 

Considering  now  the  divine  model  of  what  the 
Church  should  be,  it  must  be  evident  that  in  some 
things  we  have  departed  a  long  way  from  that  noble 
example.  We  have  gone  away  from  the  simplicity, 
from  the  personal  devotion,  from  the  self-sacrifice  of 
the  Apostolic  Church.  The  Church  is  rich  and  power- 
ful and  has  the  eye  of  the  nations ;  but  we  have  lost 
something  to  secure  which  we  could  well  afford  to  give 


INTRODUCTION. 

up  some  of  the  visible  signs  of  our  greatness  and 
power.  And  whatever  we  may  think  of  particular 
forms  and  methods  of  church  work,  the  conviction  is 
getting  hold  on  the  conscience  of  Christendom,  that  if 
we  would  be  equal  to  the  tremendous  obligations  of 
these  times,  some  of  that  simple  faith  and  that  cheer- 
ful consecration  of  the  primitive  Church  must  come 
back  to  us.  We  talk  of  the  dangers  of  scepticism, 
and  that  Christianity  to  be  secure  must  meet  it ;  and 
so  it  must,  but  the  cogency  of  the  argument  which 
Christianity  presents  depends  at  last  upon  the  vigor 
of  Christian  life  that  is  back  of  the  argument.  We 
speak  of  the  social  trials  that  surround  the  community, 
the  alienation  of  class  from  class,  and  the  conflicts  these 
conditions  render  inevitable.  We  must  meet  these 
trials  and  engage  in  these  conflicts,  not  in  a  lifeless 
round  of  merely  respectable  and  nominal  Christianity, 
but  in  a  certain  intensity  of  Christian  truth  and  senti- 
ment, in  the  union  of  believers  panoplied  in  the  old 
doctrine,  locking  arms  across  the  dividing  lines,  in  the 
old  fellowship  of  the  apostles,  living  every  day  and 
everywhere  the  great  truths  that  we  profess. 

All  great  ages  of  church  history  have  been  adventu- 
rous, from  the  days  when  Joshua  claimed  Canaan  to 
the  day  when  the  Wesleys  left  the  Church  that  they 
might  dwell  among  and  uplift  the  people.  We  are 
coming  upon  the  most  adventurous  times  now,  —  a  cru- 
sade not  for  the  dead  Christ's  tomb,  but  for  the  living 
Christ's  cross.  To  be  a  Christian  is  to  be  a  cross- 
bearer,  to  enter  into  the  sacrificial  spirit  of  the  Master, 
like  Paul  to  be  the  slave  of  Jesus  Christ ;  and  all  this 
that  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven  may  take  its  place  on  the 
earth,  that  all  life  may  be  divine,  and  that  the  blessings 
of  society,  education,  and  government  may  be  inbreathed 
with  the  spirit  of  the  living  God.  To  secure  this  result 
xxii 


INTRODUCTION. 

there  need  be  nothing  new,  but  the  old  Gospel  in  the 
full  measure  of  its  power  applied  to  individuals  and  to 
the  whole  structure  of  society. 

There  must  be  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel:  ''As 
ye  go,  preach."  Every  great  work  has  begun  there,  — 
Paul  at  Ephesus,  Augustine  at  Rome,  Savonarola  in 
Florence,  Luther  at  Erfurth,  Wesley  and  Whitfield 
among  the  colliers  and  peasants  in  England. 

There  must  be  continuous  evangelistic  work,  by 
which  is  not  meant  continuous  revival  service,  but  such 
personal  work  as  will  bring  people  at  all  times  to 
personal  commitment  to  Christ. 

There  must  be  a  purpose  to  apply  the  whole  Gospel 
to  the  whole  man,  to  meet  the  people  at  every  point  of 
need,  physical,  intellectual,  moral,  and  spiritual. 

Surrounding  all  church  work  there  must  be  a  spiritual 
atmosphere,  secured  by  the  character  of  the  workers, 
by  religious  exercises  connected  with  all  the  depart- 
ments of  the  work,  and  by  keeping  always  supreme  the 
principle  that  we  do  it  all  in  His  Name  and  for  the 
supreme  end  of  saving  souls.  There  will  then  be  no 
danger  in  any  kind  of  institutional  work.  Above  all 
and  sanctifying  all,  we  must  get  nearer  to  Christ.  We 
must  recall  the  words  of  the  Master  to  his  disciples 
when  they  were  striving  for  pre-eminence,  "  I,  your 
lord  and  master,  am  among  you  as  he  that  serveth." 
Then  we  shall  see  the  divine  dignity  and  glory  of  the 
service  committed  to  us. 

This  book  deals  chiefly  with  methods  of  church  work ; 
but  it  suggests  methods  and  pleads  for  activity  on  no 
ground  lower  than  the  top  of  Calvary.  Christ  sacri- 
ficed for  us  necessitates  a  sacrificial  church,  whose 
ways  of  working  are  flexible  to  every  new  occasion, 
but  whose  spirit  is  as  changeless  as  the  spirit  of 
Christ. 

xxiii 


MODEEN 
METHODS    IN    CHUECH   WOEK. 


CHAPTEE  I. 

CARDINAL   PRINCIPLES. 

It  would  be  strange  indeed  if  the  closing  years  of 
this  century,  which  stand  so  signally  for  progress,  for 
invention,  for  unparalleled  industrial  and  commercial 
achievement, .  for  material  and  political  development 
and  attainment,  when  philosophers  are  writing  of  the 
"Evolution  of  Evolution"  and  a  decade  marks  greater 
results  than  a  century  was  wont  to  do,  —  it  would  be 
strange  if  these  closing  years  recorded  that  all  other 
departments  of  life  had  moved  forward  with  acceler- 
ated energy  and  power,  but  that  the  Church  alone  in  its 
great  mission  had  stood  still.  And  the  Church,  we  are 
wont  to  say,  has  before  it  infinite  possibilities  ! 

Whatever  may  be  suggested  by  a  superficial  glance 
at  the  religious  world,  a  careful  study  of  the  facts 
shows  that  the  Christian  Church  has  entered  upon  a 
new  era,  —  an  era  of  fast  spreading  the  Kingdom.  The 
prophecy  ' '  Greater  works  than  these  shall  he  do ;  be- 
cause I  go  unto  my  Father,"  ^  is  being  fulfilled.  More 
souls  are  being  reached  daily  in  this  dawn  of  the  twen- 
tieth century  than  ever  before  in  the  history  of  the 
1  John  xiv.  12. 
1  1 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

Church.  New  methods  have  been  adopted.  Work  is 
aggressive.  There  is  a  "  sound  of  a  going  in  the  tops 
of  the  mulberry  trees."  True,  this  era  has  not  fully 
come,  but  it  has  come  as  day  has  come  when 

"  doth  the  morning  starre  appeare 
Out  of  the  East,  with  flaming  locks  bedight."  i 

The  growth  of  Christianity  is  shown  "in  that  In 
1800  there  was  one  Evangelical  communicant  in  every 
14.50  inhabitants  in  the  whole  country.  In  1850  there 
was  one  in  every  6.57  inhabitants.  In  1870  there  was 
one  in  every  5.78  inhabitants.  In  1880  there  was  one 
in  every  5  inhabitants.  In  1890  there  was  one  in 
every  4.53  inhabitants.  These  figures  indicate  a  very 
large  relative  gain  upon  the  population,  —  three  com- 
municants in  the  same  number  of  inhabitants  where 
there  was  one  in  1800.  .  .  .  Where  the  population 
since  1800  has  increased  twelve  fold  the  communi- 
cants of  these  churches  increased  thirty-eight  fold,  or 
over  three  times  as  fast  relatively."  ^ 

The  wide  and  increasing  influence  of  Christianity  on 
the  thought  and  life  of  the  world  is  shown  in  many 
ways  :  a  few  j^ears  ago  any  consideration  of  the  Gospel 
principles  in  the  study  of  sociology  was  regarded  as 
unscientific  ;  now  the  commandment  Love  one  another 
AS  I  HAVE  LOVED  YOU  is  the  basis  of  our  sociology. 
The  influence  of  Christianity  is  further  seen  in  its 
raising  the  tone  of  citizenship ;  creating  a  regard  for 
the  rights  of  others;  imposing  obligations  upon  the 
wealthy  to  share  their  abundance  with  those  less  fortu- 
nate ;  inculcating  the  principles  of  justice ;  emphasiz- 
ing the  duty  of  humanity  to  childre-n,  to  the  poor,  to 
prisoners,  and  to  all  suffering  classes ;  inciting  to  con- 

1  Spenser's  Faerie  Queene,  canto  viii. 

2  Problem  of  Religious  Progress,  by  Rev.  Daniel  Dorchester, 
D.D.,  pp.  594,  595. 


CARDINAL  PRINCIPLES. 

stant  endeavor  in  the  interests  of  peace  and  the  arbi* 
tration  of  grievances  between  men  and  nations. 

Along  with  this  increasing  influence  and  extended 
power  of  Christianity,  a  great  change  has  been  coming 
over  our  churches.  The  indications  of  a  return  to  the 
Christianity  of  Christ  lie  open  to  our  sight  on  every 
side.  A  new  and  more  strenuous  spirit  of  helpfulness 
characterizes  the  inner  and  outer  life  of  the  churches ; 
they  are  becoming  more  humanitarian.  And  in  the 
larger  and  more  vital  appreciation  of  the  gospel  of  ser- 
vice, of  love,  and  of  human  brotherhood,  they  are 
becoming  more  practical, —  going  into  the  fuller  life  of 
human  relationships,  in  which  the  capabilities  of  fel- 
lowship, love,  and  sympathetic  helpfulness  are  liber- 
ated, expanded,  and  enriched, —  and  are  seeking  that 
the  spirit  of  Christ  may  be  realized  in  the  life  of  the 
family,  the  community,  the  church,  and  the  nation,  and 
become  wholly  the  informing  life  of  the  world.  In 
other  words,  that  which  marks  the  new  era  in  church 
life  and  methods  is  the  recovery  of  the  full  teaching  of 
the  early  Church,  —  that  the  office  of  the  church  is  to 
heal  and  to  teach  as  well  as  to  preach.  If  we  call  such 
work  "  new,"  it  is  only  because  we  have  lost  sight  of  it 
for  several  hundred  years ;  for  the  work  is  as  old  as 
the  Apostles,  and  bases  its  claim  upon  the  teachings 
of  the  Son  of  Man. 

Those  unfamiliar  with  the  nature  of  the  new  move- 
ment which  stands  for  the  realization  of  this  Gospel 
idea  of  healing,  teaching,  and  preaching,  erroneously 
suppose  that  it  finds  expression  only  in  churches  work- 
ing with  what  is  called  the  '^  mission  element,"  and 
therefore  not  adapted  to  the  wealthier  churches,  and  of 
such  colossal  undertaking  as  to  be  impracticable  for 
the  poorer,  country  and  \'illage  parishes.  This  popu- 
lar impression  has  its  rise,  no  doubt,  in  the  attention 

3 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

which  the  signal  success  of  the  Institutional  church  has 
attracted  to  itself,  especially  in  the  mission  districts. 
But  the  forward  Christian  movement  of  our  day  is 
in  the  avenues  of  our  city  and  in  the  suburban  and 
country  churches  no  less  than  in  the  mission  "  down- 
town "  districts.  Considering  the  environment  of  each 
church,  the  number  of  people  within  its  reach,  the 
results  of  the  new  methods  in  the  avenue,  village,  and 
country  churches  have  been  as  large  proportionately  as 
have  those  of  the  mission  churches. 

For  churches  illustrative  of  the  forward  Christian 
movement,  I  would  mention  the  Open,  the  Free,  and  the 
Institutional  church.^  Though  different  in  name,  they 
are  one  in  spirit  and  aim,  the  detail  work  of  the  church 
being  worked  out  according  to  the  environment  of  each 
church.  It  is  in  the  principles  which  underlie  their 
work,  therefore,  that  we  are  to  find  the  idea  for  which 
the  movement  stands.  A  study  of  the  movement 
reveals  six  cardinal  principles :  — 

1.  Evangelism  is  the  first  principle  to  be  mentioned. 
By  this  is  meant  especially  the  saving  of  souls  and  the 
training  and  nurturing  of  Christian  character ;  the  same 
emphasis  being  placed  on  the  sacraments  and  preach- 
ing as  has  been  done  heretofore.  The  only  reason  for 
speaking  of  this  is  to  present  all  the  underlying  prin- 
ciples of  the  new  movement.  This  seems  necessary, 
since  there  has  been  some  confusion  of  thought,  on  the 
part  of  those  who  know  the  work  only  at  a  distance,  as 
to  just  what  the  new  movement  means  and  represents. 
Those  persons  are  wide  of  the  truth  who  think  the  sen- 
sationalist its  representative,  or  who  attribute  to  it  any 
new  doctrines. 

That  this  is  the  spirit  of  the  movement  is  evidenced 

1  For  conveuience  tlie  term  "  Open  church  "  will  be  used  through- 
out this  chapter  as  a  comprehensive  term  for  the  new  movement. 

4 


CARDINAL  PRINCIPLES. 

by  the  following  quotations  from  two  of  its  leaders  and 
well-known  men  in  the  church.  The  Rev.  Charles  L. 
Thompson,  D.D.,  President  of  the  Open  and  Institu- 
tional Church  League,  in  speaking  of  the  Open  church 
says :  "It  believes  there  is  no  other  name  but  the 
name  of  Christ  whereby  men  must  be  saved.  It  be- 
lieves it  will  profit  us  nothing  to  gain  the  world  and 
lose  our  soul,  or  life.  It  holds  firmly  to  the  supremacy 
of  eternal  life.  Its  ultimate  is  to  bring  men  to  the 
knowledge,  faith,  and  service  of  the  Redeemer.  It 
would  count  church  work  a  failure  that  did  not  result 
in  lives  renewed  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
More  than  this,  it  is  willing  to  have  its  work  tested 
and  judged  by  its  fealty  to  and  success  in  the  supreme 
work  of  bringing  men  to  Christ."  ^ 

Unmistakable,  too,  are  the  words  of  the  Rev.  Russell 
H.  Conwell,  D.D.,  pastor  of  the  Baptist  Temple,  Phil- 
adelphia, one  of  the  largest  and  most  successful  Insti- 
tutional churches  in  the  country.  Dr.  Conwell  says : 
' '  The  mission  of  the  Church  is  to  save  the  souls  of 
men.  That  is  its  true  mission.  It  is  the  only  mission 
of  the  Church.  That  should  be  its  only  thought.  The 
moment  any  church  admits  a  singer  who  does  not  sing 
to  save  souls ;  the  moment  a  church  calls  a  pastor  who 
does  not  preach  to  save  souls ;  the  moment  a  church 
elects  a  deacon  who  does  not  work  to  save  souls ;  the 
moment  a  church  gives  a  supper  or  an  entertainment 
of  any  kind  not  for  the  purpose  of  saving  souls,  —  it 
ceases  in  so  much  to  be  a  church,  and  to  fulfil  the 
magnificent  mission  G-od  gave  to  it.  Every  concert, 
every  choir  service,  every  preaching  service,  every 
Lord's  Supper,  every  agency  used  in  the  church  must 
have  the  great  mission  plainly  before  its  eyes.  We  are 
here  to  save  the  souls  of  dying  sinners  ;  we  are  here  for 

1  The  Sacredness  of  the  Secular,  p.  5. 
5 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

no  other  purpose ;  and,  the  mission  of  the  Church  being 
so  clear,  that  is  the  only  test  of  a  real  church." 

But  it  will  be  helpful  not  only  to  have  the  statement 
of  leaders  in  this  work,  but  also  the  judgment  of  men 
outside  the  movement  who  have  investigated  the  work. 

Said  the  Congregationalist,  in  an  editorial  a  short  time 
ago  :  ' '  To  the  query  so  often  put.  Is  the  Institutional 
church  secularizing  religion?  this  much  at  least  can  be 
said :  It  certainly  has  not  had  that  effect  upon  the 
pastors  and  their  fellow-laborers.  It  would  be  hard  to 
find  a  set  of  men  more  ardent  in  their  devotion  to  Christ 
than  the  men  who  are  identified  with  Institutional  work. 
Moreover,  as  respects  the  body  of  the  membership,  if 
the  prayer-meeting  be  taken  as  the  thermometer  of 
spiritual  life,  or  if  a  visitor  comes  in  contact  with  the 
rank  and  file,  he  gains  the  impression  that  a  strong 
and  constant  desire  to  save  men  permeates  the  entire 
church." 

2.  Consecration  is  the  second  cardinal  principle; 
and  a  consecration  too  that  is  electric  in  its  very 
thought.  Not  the  consecration  merely  of  one  day  in 
the  seven,  or  of  a  part  of  a  man,  or  a  part  of  his  in- 
come, but  the  consecration  of  all  of  the  man,  all  of  his 
income,  and  all  of  the  three  hundred  and  sixty-five  days 
of  the  year.  The  spirit  of  the  new  movement  is  all-in- 
clusive in  its  claims,  claiming  not  only  that  all  of  the  man 
—  body,  soul,  and  spirit  —  and  all  that  he  has  —  time, 
talents,  and  possessions  —  are  God's,  but  also  claiming 
that  all  society  —  its  business,  labor,  commerce,  laws, 
institutions,  everj^thing  —  is  His  also.  The  Open 
church,  therefore,  believes  in  "  sanctifying  all  days  and 
all  means  to  the  end  of  sa%ang  the  world  for  Christ." 
And  this  emphasis  on  the  sacredness  of  all  things  and 
of  all  the  man  is  one  of  the  principles  which  differenti- 
ates the  new  movement  from  the  work  of  the  past.    Dr. 

6 


CARDIiNTAL  PRINCIPLES. 

Josiah  Strong  recognized  this  when  he  said:  ''This 
broader  conception  of  the  mission  of  the  Church,  while 
it  has  been  held  by  individuals,  has  never  been  grasped 
by  the  Church  herself.  She  has  deemed  the  world  a 
hopeless  wreck,  and  herself  commissioned  to  save  out 
of  it  as  many  as  possible,  whom  she  is  to  land  on  the 
heavenly  shore.  It  has  not  yet  dawned  on  her  that 
she  is  to  save  the  wreck  itself.  She  has  sought  to  fit 
men  to  do  God's  perfect  will  in  heaven  instead  of 
consciously  aiming  to  hasten  the  answer  to  her  Lord's 
prayer,  '  Thy  will  be  done  in  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven.' 
She  does  not  seem  to  have  perceived  that  God  had 
the  world  in  his  heart  and  plan.  '  God  so  loved  the 
world '  that  he  gave  his  Son  for  its  redemption.  Christ 
came  into  the  world,  not  to  condemn  it,  '  but  that  the 
world  through  him  might  be  saved.' "  ^ 

3.  Ministration  is  the  third  cardinal  principle  of 
the  Open  church.  It  aims,  as  Christ's  body,  to  furnish 
the  material  environment  through  which  his  spirit  can 
be  practically  expressed  to  the  age  in  which  it  exists.^ 
It  seeks  to  reach  all  sides  of  a  man,  —  not  only  the  spir- 
itual side,  but  also  the  physical,  intellectual,  and  social 
nature  of  man.  It  therefore  "  seeks  to  become  the 
centre  and  source  of  all  beneficent  and  philanthropic 
effort,  and  to  take  part  in  every  movement  which  has 
for  its  end  the  alleviation  of  all  human  suffering,  the 
elevation  of  man,  and  the  betterment  of  the  world."  ^ 
This  is  simply  following  the  example  of  Him  who  came 
not  to  be  ministered  unto  but  to  minister ;  who  went 
about  doing  good,  healing  the  sick,  comforting  the 
afflicted,  feeding  the  hungry,  and  sitting  with  the  sin- 
ner that  he  might  show  him  the  way  of  Life.     The 

1  The  New  Era,  p.  236. 

2  Platform  of  the  Open  and  Institutional  Church  League,  United 
States  of  America. 

7 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

welcome  of  Jesus  Christ  was  a  gracious  welcome,  his 
ministry  was  for  «7Z,  and  the  common  people  heard 
him  gladly.  ''  The  men  who  are  active  in  the  new  reli- 
gious movement  are  not  foolish  enough  to  suppose  that 
they  can  literally  imitate  Christ  under  the  conditions 
of  modern  life  and  have  any  good  grow  out  of  it ;  but 
they  endeavor  in  all  ways  to  put  his  spirit  into  the  life 
of  to-day,  so  that  the  churches  may  be  to  the  men  of  the 
present  time  what  he  was  to  the  men  of  his  time."  ^ 
Therefore  the  Open  church  seeks  to  minister  unto 
others  so  freely  and  nobly  that  the  plainest  people  will 
gladly  come ;  and  ministers,  with  the  church  open  seven 
days  in  the  week,  with  provision  for  helpful  amuse- 
ments and  recreation  removed  from  temptation,  with 
libraries  and  reading-rooms  and  means  for  social  inter- 
course, and  ever  ready  and  helping  hands  in  time  of 
misfortune,  loss,  sorrow,  disaster,  and  affliction.  This 
ministering  unto  the  whole  man  means  too,  where 
needed,  kindergartens  for  children,  club-rooms  for 
men,  training-classes  for  young  men  and  young  women, 
the  Helping  Hand  for  mothers,  and  nurseries  where 
mothers  who  are  compelled  to  work  out  for  the  day 
may  leave  their  children  knowing  that  their  care  and 
education  will  be  provided  for. 

It  is  in  this  work,  at  least  in  a  part  of  this  work, 
that  the  new  movement  has  been  criticised ;  it  being 
urged  that  such  beneficent  and  philanthropic  efforts 
should  be  left  to  charitable  societies  instituted  for  that 
purpose.  It  may  be  answered  that  if  the  Church  dele- 
gates such  work  to  outside  societies  it  loses  a  great 
blessing.  The  good  of  doing  is  reactive  upon  the  doer, 
is  not  alone  felt  by  the  recipient.  The  curse  of  men 
has  been  their  content  to  do  for  others  by  proxy.     Let 

^  The  Institutional  Church,  by  George  Willis  Cooke,  "  The  New 
England  Magazine,"  August,  1896,  p.  647. 


CARDINAL  PRINCIPLES. 

the  Church  go  and  do  as  the  very  hands  and  feet  of 
God,  and  it  will  soon  jBnd  that  loving  deeds  are  as 
potent  as  ever,  that  hard  hearts  are  melted  by  the 
Christ  spirit  of  love.  God  committed  the  poor  to  the 
care  of  the  Church.  It  is  the  doing  of  beneficent  and 
philanthropic  work  —  precisely  this  kind  of  work  — 
which  Jesus  declared  is  the  test  that  is  to  determine 
eternal  destiny.^ 

The  Duke  of  Argyle,  speaking  of  Dr.  Chalmers,  says  : 
*'  He  obeyed  the  call  of  the  Psalmist  in  considering  the 
poor.  And  the  result  of  his  consideration  was  that  the 
relief  of  and  care  for  unavoidable  poverty  is  the  spe- 
cial duty  and  function  of  the  Christian  Church  in  its 
fullest  and  highest  organization  of  combined  laity  and 
clergy.  .  .  .  He  was  not  content  with  holding  this 
view  in  theory.  He  undertook  to  show  how  it  could 
be  worked  out  in  practice  in  one  of  the  parishes  of  the 
great  city  of  Glasgow  with  a  population  of  more  than 
one  hundred  thousand.  He  undertook  to  show  that 
the  free-will  offering  of  his  own  parochial  congregation 
could  be  made  adequate  to  the  discharge  of  this  great 
duty.  He  desired  to  show  that  the  Christian  Church, 
if  it  only  knew  how  to  drill  and  marshal  its  spiritual 
forces  in  facing  and  dealing  with  the  causes  of  secular 
suffering  and  distress,  could  be  and  would  be  the  great- 
est and  best  of  all  agencies  in  the  world.  And  he  did 
show  it."  =* 

Those  who  attack  the  new  movement  must  do  it 
along  different  lines  from  that  of  ministration,  for  here 
it  is  too  close  to  the  Christ  principle,  —  not  to  be  min- 
istered unto,  but  to  minister. 

It  is  at  once  apparent  that  the  nature  and  extent  of 

1  Matthew  xxv.  31-46. 

2  Christian  Socialism, "  Eclectic  Magazine,"  1895,  p.  20.  Reprint 
from  the  "  Nineteenth  Century." 

9 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

ministration  must  vary  as  the  need  varies.  This  leads 
to  the  mention  of  the  fourth  cardinal  principle  under- 
lying the  new  movement,  which  is  — 

4.  Adaptability.  He  who  fails  to  grasp  the  signifi- 
cance of  this  principle  will  never  understand  the  Open 
church.  It  is  an  institutional  organism  varying  its 
features  according  to  local  needs.  If  upon  the  wealthy 
avenue,  or  in  a  village  of  homes,  the  church  must 
adopt  means  suited  to  its  environment  for  bringing  the 
people  to  Christ  and  keeping  them  there.  Methods 
essential  in  the  tenement  district  might  prove  ruin- 
ous in  a  community  of  homes.  Because  new  methods 
succeed  in  one  locality  is  not  always  reason  for  in- 
augurating them  in  another.  We  must  not  make  our 
appeal  to  the  poor  alone,  any  more  than  to  the  rich 
alone. 

This  principle  of  adaptability  has  not  always  been 
remembered  in  Christian  work.  It  was  said  by  the 
Rev.  A.  F.  Schauffler,  D.D.,  in  1888,  that  during 
the  twenty  years  preceding,  nearly  two  hundred  thou- 
sand people  had  moved  in  below  Fourteenth  Street, 
New  York,  and  seventeen  Protestant  churches  had 
moved  out.^  This  "  uptown  "  movement  has  been  go- 
ing on  in  all  our  larger  cities  ;  and  why  ?  Because  the 
Church  could  not,  or  would  not,  adjust  its  methods  to 
meet  the  conditions  of  its  new  environment. 

But  it  is  not  the  ' '  uptown  "  movement  that  best 
shows  the  want  of  adaptation  to  local  need.  In  fact, 
this  moving  may  be  proof  of  adaptability  to  changed 
conditions.  We  owe  a  duty  to  the  well-to-do  and  to 
the  rich  as  well  as  to  the  artisan  and  the  poor,  and  the 
Church  must  keep  her  hold  on  the  people  on  whose  gifts 
the   support   of    missions   depends;    but   the   loss   of 


I  The  New  Era,  bj  Dr.  Josiah  Strong,  p.  200. 
10 


CARDINAL  PRINCIPLES. 

flexibility  and  adaptation  has  been  apparent  in  the 
Church  in  its  want  of  large  persuasive  appeal  to  the 
people  of  aU  classes. 

The  principle  of  adaptability,  therefore,  is  seen  to 
be  a  most  important  one,  and  the  pastor  who  fails  to 
recognize  its  claims  is  sure  to  fail  of  truest  success. 
Methods  suitable  to-day  may  require  large  modification 
to-morrow.  We  cannot,  therefore,  hold  to  cold,  me- 
chanical methods.  Eternal  verities  will  stand,  but 
the  application  of  gospel  principles  must  vary  with 
the  ever-varying,  ever-changing  conditions  of  human 
life  and  the  changing  circumstances  of  society. 

5.  Extension  is  the  fifth  cardinal  principle.  The 
Church  has  always,  I  believe,  recognized  that  its  pur- 
pose is  to  multiply  itself,  to  reproduce  itself  in  new 
churches.  Like  young  birds  that  mature  in  strength 
and  then  fly  away  from  the  mother  home  to  build  nests 
of  their  own,  —  nests  which  in  turn  send  out  other 
young  to  build  other  nests,  —  so  the  Church  should 
multiply  itself,  reproduce  itself,  till  the  world  over 
there  shall  be  churches  of  the  living  God.  The 
extension  idea  of  the  new  movement,  however,  in- 
cludes not  only  giving  to  missions  and  the  estab- 
lished boards  of  the  Church,  and  sustaining  some 
little  adjunct  church  or  mission,  and  building  new 
churches,  but  also  emphasizes  that  the  Church  is  to 
multiply  itself  through  all  its  individual  members,  — 
that  wherever  there  is  a  human  heart  there  is  the 
temple  of  God  and  opportunity  for  service,  and  also 
emphasizes  the  importance  of  regular  systematic  and 
personal  effort  for  extending  the  Kingdom  throughout 
the  community. 

6.  Organization  is  the  sixth  principle.  The  prin- 
ciples already  mentioned  give  rise  to  certain  forms 
of  organization,  to  certain  definite,  distinct  lines   ot 

11 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

activity,  —  such  organization  as  shall  give  to  the 
"  builders  every  one  his  sword,"  and  shall  put  into 
battle  line  every  one  within  the  pale  of  the  church. 

We  are  in  an  age  of  organization.  It  is  a  necessary 
condition  of  success  in  any  enterprise  whatsoever. 
Dr.  Lyman  Abbott  once  said,  "Neither  a  mob  of 
brave  men  nor  an  organized  body  of  cowards  ever 
made  an  army."  Yet  thousands  of  our  churches  are 
literally  falling  to  pieces  because  of  loose,  haphazard, 
unbusinesslike  ways;  falling  to  pieces,  too,  when 
there  is  infinite  power  in  a  willing  people.  We  need 
to  utilize  that  power,  as  the  power  of  Niagara  is  being 
utilized.  For  centuries  the  water-fall  of  Niagara  had 
gone  on  into  its  great  plunge  only  to  break  into  mad- 
dening fury  where  its  waves  are  tossed  in  grandeur 
and  lashed  into  spray  at  the  whirlpool  two  miles  below. 
Then  men  thought  to  make  use  of  that  power.  Now 
it  supplies  the  force  which  generates  the  electricity 
for  lighting  the  Empire  State  and  for  running  the 
machinery  of  its  great  manufactories. 

"  To  organize  is  not  to  create  opportunities,"  but  to 
use  those  which  already  exist,  to  utilize  the  powers 
already  flowing  through  the  Church.  It  is  but  bringing 
the  people  together  in  right  relations  to  one  another 
and  in  right  relations  to  God ;  and  the  result  is  that 
they  are  as  lights  upon  a  thousand  hills,  and  a  moving 
power  in  the  great  work  of  the  Kingdom.  General  Von 
Moltke  was  asked  what  was  the  pivotal  hour  between 
Prussia  and  France  and  the  consummation  of  the 
German  Empire.  He  replied,  "  The  hour  when  I 
completed  the  maps  of  Alsace-Lorraine,  and  put  the 
armies  face  to  face  on  paper."  Most  Christians  long 
to  do  something  to  advance  God's  Kingdom,  but  many 
of  them  do  not  know  how  or  what  to  do.  There  is  no 
more  stupendous   blunder  than   the   assumption   that 

12 


CARDINAL  PRINCIPLES. 

the}''  are  not  willing,  or  that  they  know  just  how  and 
where  to  begin.  Some  are  too  timid  to  express  their 
willingness.  Others  check  and  freeze  the  fountain  of 
aspiration  by  minimizing  their  powers.  But  people 
are  put  to  doing,  work  for  the  church  is  practically 
accomplished,  when  some  capable  mind  maps  out  the 
work  to  be  done,  —  completed,  as  was  Prussia's  victory 
with  Moltke's  maps  of  Alsace-Lorraine.  The  organ- 
ized church  not  only  shows  to  every  man  his  work,  but 
maps  it  out  for  him  when  necessary,  so  that  a  way- 
faring man  cannot  err  therein.  And  a  value  of  having 
different  societies  is  to  appeal  by  ' '  all  means  "  to  all 
people.  If  one  society  will  not  appeal  to  a  member, 
perhaps  another  will. 

There  are  so  many  counter-atti'actions  to  the  church 
at  the  present  time,  that  a  successful  minister  must 
not  only  be  a  good  preacher  and  a  faithful  pastor  but 
also  a  good  organizer. 

Such  are  the  cardinal  principles  which  underlie  the 
Forward  Christian  movement  of  this  closing  century. 
We  see  that  these  principles  are  not  new,  but,  now 
applied  in  their  simplicity  and  business-like  directness, 
they  bear  the  breath  of  omnipotence  and  are  as  exhila- 
rating as  on  the  morn  when  first  proclaimed  on  the 
Galilean  hills. 

Rev.  James  Roscoe  Day,  D.D.,  Chancellor  of 
Syracuse  University,  and  former  pastor  of  Calvary 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  New  York,  in  speaking 
of  this  new  movement,  said:  ''The  whole  matter  re- 
solves itself  into  this,  —  an  attempt  to  get  the  Christian 
Church  back  to  Christ,  and  to  have  it  stand  for  Christ 
among  men.  ...  I  think  the  day  has  passed  and  will 
never  be  recovered  when  that  old-time  church  will  have 
any  power  over  the  men  and  women  of  this  world. 
They  want  something  to  enter  into  their  lives,  to  help 

13 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

them  and  to  bless  them ;   and  they  want  it  done  in  a 
natural  kind  of  way  too."  ^ 

One  remark  must  be  made  before  closing  this 
chapter.  The  churches  representing  the  new  move- 
ment do  not  claim  to  be  perfect,  nor  to  have  made  no 
•mistakes.  If  one  plan  fails,  they  believe  in  trying 
another.  "He  is  not  the  best  Christian  nor  the  best 
general  who  makes  the  fewest  false  steps,"  said  the 
Rev.  F.  W.  Robertson,  "  but  he  is*'the  best  who  makes 
the  most  splendid  victories  by  the  retrieval  of  false 
steps.  Forget  mistakes ;  organize  victory  out  of  mis- 
takes." Certainly  no  greater  mistake  could  be  made 
than  has  long  been  made  by  the  Church  of  the  past,  — 
not  to  try  new  methods  when  the  old  methods  have 
failed  to  advance  the  Kingdom  of  God  among  men, 
and  have  left  the  roadway  stained  with  the  blood 
of  the  impenitent,  and  this  sad  world  ringing  with  the 
cries  of  the  hopeless  dying. 

1  Address  before  the  Open  or  Institutional  Church  League,  New 
York,  1894. 


14 


THE  FREE  CHURCH. 


CHAPTER   II. 

THE  FREE,  THE  OPEN,  AND  THE  INSTITUTIONAL 
CHURCH. 

Churches  standing  for  the  principles  enumerated  in 
the  preceding  chapter  —  namely,  evangelism,  consecra- 
tion, ministration,  adaptability,  extension,  and  organi- 
zation —  have  experienced  great  difficulty  in  finding  a 
name  "broad  and  distinctive  enough  to  cover  the 
idea."  The  names,  "Free,"  "Open,"  and  "Institu- 
tional "  have  been  used  most  commonly,  and  sometimes 
interchangeably.  But  not  one  of  these  terms  fully 
meets  the  need,  and  the  first  and  last  names  mentioned 
are  open  to  the  serious  objection  of  being  positively 
misleading. 

The  term  "  Free  church  "  has  sometimes  been  applied 
to  churches  that  have  undertaken  a  broad  Christian 
work.  But  the  popular  impression  of  a  free  church  is 
one  with  free  pews  ;  therefore  the  term  "  Free,"  instead 
of  being  an  expression  and  setting  forth  of  great  un- 
derlying principles,  suggests  that  free  sittings  are  the 
terminus  ad  quern.  In  fact,  the  term  was  originally 
applied  to  churches  only  that  had  abolished  pew  rentals. 
It  is  true  that  a  large  number  of  churches  that  have 
engaged  in  aggressive  work  have  deemed  it  best  to 
have  free  pews,  but  there  are  notable  exceptions  to  the 
rule.  And  where  the  free-pew  idea  is  concurred  in,  it 
is  but  a  single  phenomenon  of  a  great  underlying  prin- 
ciple ;  otherwise  free  pews  in  a  church  may  mean  very 

16 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

little.  It  is  possible  to  conduct  the  system  on  as  low 
a  mercantile  basis  as  any  other  system.  Again,  it  is 
painfully  evident  that  a  church  which  has  free  pews 
yet  is  closed  six  days  out  of  seven  is  farther  from  the 
Apostolic  idea  than  is  the  church  which  sells  its  sittings 
and  holds  them  for  the  owners  at  certain  services,  but 
has  other  services  which  are  free  to  the  public  and 
doors  that  are  open  all  the  time  during  the  week. 
This  latter  modification  of  the  free-pew  system  is  justi- 
fied even  by  so  strong  an  advocate  as  the  Hon.  Silas 
McBee,  when  the  church  is  so  popular  that,  unless  pro- 
tected, the  members  on  whom  the  church  is  dependent 
for  support  would  only  now  and  then  find  opportunity 
to  worship  at  its  services. 

But  the  term  "  Free  church  "  is  otherwise  misleading. 
It  is  suggestive  of  a  church  which  places  little  or  no 
emphasis  on  financial  support.  But,  as  a  matter  of  fact, 
all  free  churches  do  emphasize  financial  obligation, 
though  they  may  emphasize  it  under  the  gentler  term 
of  "  voluntary  offering."  A  church  cannot  be  con- 
ducted without  expense,  and  church  boards  must  be 
supported.  The  only  free  thing  about  giving  in  the 
Free  church  is  the  freedom  of  giving  as  each  man  is 
able  or  as  each  man  will. 

It  is  not  strange  that  there  is  an  increasing  tendency 
to  drop  the  term  "  Free"  and  to  use  the  term  "  Open," 
or  only  the  old  denominational  name. 

The  term  "Institutional,"  as  applied  to  the  church, 
is  also  open  to  serious  objection.  It  is  a  cumbersome 
and  ill-suited  word.  "  An  institution,"  as  one  has 
happily  put  it,  "is  an  organization  for  the  realization 
of  an  idea."  The  true  church  does  stand  for  organiza- 
tion, that  is  to  say,  for  "  a  due  construction  of  parts ;  " 
but  organization  is  but  one  of  the  underlying  cardinal 
principles.     Therefore,   to   call    the   church  "  Institu- 

X6 


THE  INSTITUTIONAL  CHURCH. 

tional"  is  to  magnify  organization  unduly,  and  to 
suggest  the  doing  of  Christian  work  by  machinery, 
handling  the  masses  by  cold  mechanical  methods,  — 
which  is  the  very  opposite  of  what  is  meant.  In  the 
true  church  societies  and  departments  are  but  open 
doors  by  which  we  may  enter  in  and  win  the  people 
personally,  and  organization  is  but  the  orderly  ar- 
rangement of  affairs  and  the  preparation  for  personal 
work.  This  is  far  different  from  delegating  that  per- 
sonal work  to  something  that  is  impersonal.  We  have 
had  quite  enough  of  that!  Dr.  Josiah  Strong  has  well 
said:  "The  average  Christian  to-day  is  hiring  his 
Christian  work  done  by  proxy,  —  by  societies,  institu- 
tions, the  minister,  the  city  missionary.  He  is  so  very 
busy  that  he  would  rather  give  his  money  than  his 
time.  His  interest  in  his  fellow-men,  therefore,  is  ex- 
pressed through  various  organizations  which  make  a  |  f 
business  of  philanthropy.  Thus  our  Christian  work  I  \ 
has  become  largely  institutional  instead  of  personal^  \^  \ 
and  therefore  largely  mechanical  instead  of  vital !  "  ^        j   ^ 

It  is  not  surprising  that  the  term  "Institutional," 
as  applied  to  the  church,  meets  with  cordial  prejudice. 
The  term  savors  of  the  secular  and  the  mechanical,  and 
is  void  of  inspiration  or  aught  that  suggests  Christian 
kindness,  personal  interest,  and  self-sacrificing  love. 
The  term  will  necessitate  continuous  explanation,  or 
else  it  must  continue  to  awaken  prejudice  and  opposi- 
tion, and  bring  the  new  movement  under  suspicion  and 
into  disfavor.  In  either  event  it  defeats  the  very  pur- 
pose for  which  it  was  chosen,  and  militates  against  the 
coming  of  the  Kingdom.  I  would  prefer  to  speak  of  a 
church  carrying  on  Institutional  work  rather  than  call 
it  an  Institutional  church. 

It  must  be  said,    however,  that   the  term   "Insti- 

1  The  New  Era,  p.  218. 
2  17 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

tutional "  has  not  been  satisfactory,  for  the  most  part, 
even  to  the  leaders  of  the  work  which  has  borne  that 
name.  Let  us  forget,  then,  the  unfortunate  christen- 
ing, and  hope  for  a  better  name  or  none  at  all. 

What  shall  we  say  of  the  term  ' '  Open "  ?  This 
term,  too,  has  come  about  naturally.  It  was  used  in 
the  first  place  to  distinguish  those  churches  with  doors 
open  every  day  in  the  week  from  the  churches  which 
stand  locked  and  bolted  from  Sunday  to  Sunday.  The 
word  ''  Open"  is  far  less  objectionable  than  the  terms 
''  Free  "  and  "  Institutional."  No  one  principle  is  em- 
phasized so  much  as  a  great  spirit  back  of  the  open 
house  is  suggested.  Figuratively,  the  term  "Open" 
is  beautiful  in  its  thought,  implying  open  pews,  open 
hearts,  open  opportunities,  and  is  a  suggestive  symbol 
of  the  open  arms  of  Everlasting  Love.  The  term 
arouses  no  prejudice,  but  rather  awakens  interest  and 
sympathy,  and  excites  investigation. 

The  word  "  Open"  is  otherwise  of  service.  It  calls 
attention  to  the  importance  of  having  church  doors 
open  day  and  evening,  and  seven  days  in  the  week. 
The  Chicago  Mail  has  estimated  the  net  capital  value 
represented  by  the  churches  of  Chicago  at  $22,500,000. 
After  reference  to  the  estimate,  and  the  proposition  of 
some  of  the  Chicago  papers  that  the  returns  on  the 
part  of  the  churches  were  inadequate,  Mr.  W.  T. 
Stead  says :  — 

"  Considering  that  London  is  more  than  twice  the 
size  of  Chicago,  and  that  the  churches  are  far  more 
costly  structures  than  those  built  on  the  shores  of  Lake 
Michigan,  it  would  not  be  out  of  the  way  to  put  the 
money  locked  up  in  church  buildings  and  sites  at  nearer 
$100,000,000  than  $75,000,000.  Every  penny  of  that 
immense  sum  is  trust-money  for  God  Almighty.  Is  it 
well  invested  ? 

la 


THE  OPEN   CHURCH. 

"The  first  principle  of  investing  money  is  that  it 
should  bear  interest  all  the  time  it  is  invested.  Rain 
or  shine,  week  in,  week  out,  all  the  days  of  the  week, 
the  man  of  the  world  expects  his  money  to  bear  inter- 
est. At  present  the  rate  of  interest  is  low.  He  counts 
himself  lucky  if  he  can  get  a  safe  three  per  cent  per 
annum.  But  what  business  man  would  lock  up  his 
capital  in  any  undertaking  that  only  yielded  a  return 
one  day  in  seven?  If  he  invests  it  in  a  public  house, 
Boniface  earns  his  dividend  seven  days  a  week ;  if  he 
puts  it  in  any  other  business,  the  investment  bears 
harvest  six  days  a  week.  But  if  the  saints  invest  it 
for  God  Almighty,  it  bears  fruit  only  one  day  in  seven. 
This  is  not  very  good  business  for  the  children  of  light, 
who  in  this  respect  have  much  to  learn  from  children 
of  the  world."  ^ 

But  there  are  other  reasons  for  the  churches  being 
open  all  the  time.  The  Psalmist  said  that  his  desire 
was  to  dwell  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  and  to  inquire  in 
his  temple.^  Can  we  inquire  in  his  temple  only  when 
the  choir  and  the  preacher  are  present?  Can  we  come 
to  him  only  through  the  priest?  True,  the  streets  are 
open,  so  are  the  saloons ;  but  the  church  is  quiet  and 
restful  and  precious  through  association.  Here  our 
thoughts,  like  the  Psalmist's,  must  be  of  His  loving 
kindness.  What  a  help,  what  an  object  lesson,  what 
a  beautiful  privilege,  "  to  daily  inquire  in  His  temple  "  ! 
Such  a  church  would  also  be  a  blessing  to  strangers. 
Thousands  of  people  are  every  day  passing  idle  hours 
in  the  cities  and  towns,  w^aiting  some  errand,  and 
would  gladly  accept  the  hospitality  of  the  open  church. 
Thus  living  streams  of  blessing  would  flow  out  from  all 
our  churches  and  from  community  to  community  as  the 
Very  rivers  of  our  God. 
1  The  Independent,  April  11,  1895,  p.  5.  2  Psalms  xxvii.  4. 
19 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

The  Episcopal  churches  have  largely  taken  the  lead 
in  keeping  some  part  of  the  church  open  daily,  with  an 
inscription  on  the  outside  of  the  church  inviting  stran- 
gers and  others  to  come  in  at  any  time  "  for  medita- 
tion and  prayer."  I  can  but  feel  that  a  church  which 
will  not  do  so  much  as  that  is  in  a  lamentable 
condition. 

It  remains  to  be  said,  however,  that  few  people,  com- 
paratively, would  avail  themselves  of  the  open  temple. 
Therefore  it  is  not  enough  that  we  merely  open  the  church 
doors.  We  must  meet  the  varied  needs  of  the  commu- 
nity, stand  as  in  the  place  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  friend  of 
man,  —  body,  soul  and  spirit,  —  and  minister  in  His 
name.  I  recognize,  however,  that  there  are  a  few  church 
constituencies  which  have  little  need  of  a  church  out- 
side its  spiritual  ministry.  But  for  the  most  part  the 
needs  of  every  community  are  many,  and  these  needs 
cannot  be  met  by  one  large,  barren,  empty  room.  For 
instance,  if  a  church  is  to  meet  the  social  and  educa- 
tional needs  of  the  community,  there  must  be  rooms 
where  the  people  can  read,  study,  or  pass  a  leisure  hour 
in  pleasant  social  intercourse,  or  find  diversion  amid 
ennobling  surroundings.  The  children  and  young  people 
too  need  to  be  provided  for  by  play-rooms  and  halls 
where  they  can  have  entertainments  and  social  gather- 
ings. There  is  dire  need  for  such  arrangements  in  almost 
every  community.  What  a  shame,  then,  for  the  church 
to  stand  bolted  and  barred  as  though  its  sacred  courts 
would  be  desecrated  by  helpful  ministries  to  suffering 
humanity  !  If  the  church  is  to  reach  society  on  all  its 
sides,  come  into  touch  with  all  classes  of  people,  —  touch 
them  where  their  needs  are  real  and  help  them  in  ways 
which  they  must  appreciate  and  so  gain  a  lasting  influ- 
ence upon  them,  —  it  must  recognize  that  man  has  more 
than  one  side  to  his  being ;  and  when  the  church  recog- 

20 


THE   OPEN   CHURCH. 

nizes  this  fact,  we  can  expect  her  courts  to  be  open 
always  with  provision  for  meeting  the  varied  needs  of 
the  community  and  freely  giving  her  loving  ministries 
to  all. 

Such  is  the  idea  of  the  Open  church.  It  is  evident 
that  even  this  word  is  not  adequately  descriptive.  Yet 
it  is  by  far  the  best  of  any  that  has  been  suggested. 
It  may  not  altogether  be  regarded  as  a  misfortune, 
however,  that  no  one  name  fully  meets  the  need.  De- 
nominational preferences  promise  to  exist,  and  churches 
are  already  known  by  theu'  individual  names.  Let  us 
hope  that  the  time  may  come  when  every  church  will 
stand  for  the  salvation  of,  and  ministration  to,  the 
whole  man  and  for  the  redemption  of  the  whole  world, 
and  stand  with  as  large  a  welcome  as  the  welcome  of 
the  Father,  "  Whosoever  will  may  come;"  and  go,  as 
did  Jesus,  "  teaching  .  .  .  and  preaching  the  gospel  of 
the  kingdom,  and  healing  all  manner  of  sickness  and 
all  manner  of  disease  among  the  people."  ^ 

1  Matthew  iv.  23. 


21 


MODERN  METHODS   IN   CHURCH  WORK. 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  CHURCH-MEMBEKS,  —  WHERE  ARE  THEY  ?  —  WHAT 
ARE  THEY  ? 

The  logical  starting-point  of  church  work  is  with  the 
church  itself.  Xerxes,  when  at  the  Hellespont  with 
his  army  of  a  million  and  a  half  of  men,  cried  patheti- 
cally, ' '  I  would  I  had  as  many  soldiers  as  men !  "  That 
army  is  little  prepared  for  war  which  goes  with  scattered, 
broken,  or  wavering  lines.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  many 
church-members  are  not  in  battle  line,  some  are 
never  there.  But  the  fault  is  not  altogether  that  of  the 
people.  vSome  are  waiting  to  be  drafted;  others  do 
not  know  how  to  enlist. 

One  of  the  first  steps  for  marshalling  people,  mak- 
ing concerted  action  possible,  is  personal  knowledge 
of  the  church-members,  —  knowing  who  they  are,  and 
where  they  are,  whether  in  line  or  out  of  it.  For  this 
purpose  it  is  necessary  to  keep  a  church  roll.  But  a 
church  roll  is  more  than  the  old-time  notion,  *'  a  history 
of  important  dates."  It  is  not  our  purpose  to  speak  of 
church  records  and  roll-books,  which  are  as  numerous 
as  they  are  varied  in  their  nature.  There  have  been 
some  new  record  books  in  this  line,  providing  for  a 
record  of  dates,  of  reception  into  church-membership, 
marriage,  dismissal,  or  death.  But  these  record  books 
are  sometimes  cumbersome,  and  cannot  be  kept  in 
alphabetical  order  with  such  convenience  as  a  card  cat- 
alogue of  the  members ;  nor  have  the  books  the  advan- 
tage of  blanks  to  be  filled  in  with  a  cross,  indicating 

22 


THE  CHURCH-MEMBERS. 


the  several  societies  to  which  the  member  may  belong. 
The  following  card  is  used  by  the  Madison  Avenue 
Presbyterian  Church  of  New  York  City :  — 


M 

S 
S 

LB 
A 

M 

M 

FM 

S 

HM 

S 

YL 

AS 

w 

s 

A& 
P 

c 

E 

X 
X 

G 
W 

X 

M 

c 

X 

E 

X 

Street,  Madison  Ave. 
No.  506. 

2,4, '95 

X 

Smith,  Mr.  H.  L. 

2,4, '95 

X 
X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

— 

X 
X 
X 

"      Mrs.  H.  L. 

2,4, '95 

Dismissed  to  Central  Ch. 
Rochester,  4,4, '96. 

X 

"       Charles  W. 

X 

"      Bertha  Louise. 

- 

"      Gertrude. 

(See  Miller,  Mrs.R.B.) 

The  letters  at  the  head  of  the  card  stand  for  the 
several  societies  of  the  church.  The  crosses  opposite 
the  name  indicate  the  societies  of  which  the  person  is  a 
member.  The  figures,  2,  4,  '95,  indicate  that  on  the 
second  day  of  the  fourth  month  of  1895  the  person 
was  received  into  active  membership  of  the  church.  It 
should  also  be  noticed  that  the  letters  indicating  the 
various  societies  which  are  to  the  right  of  this  card 
represent  the  societies  of  the  men,  and  the  letters  to 
the  left,  those  of  the  women.  This  gives  space,  in  the 
event  of  marriage,  dismissal,  or  death,  for  making 
such  record.  The  name  Miller,  in  parenthesis  at  the 
bottom  of  the  card,  refers  us  to  the  M  cards,  and  in- 
dicates that  there  is  some  close  relationship  between 
the  families  represented  by  the  two  cards.  Sometimes 
this  relationship  is  indicated  by  a  brief  note  upon  the 
back  of  the  card.  If  members  of  the  church  be  given 
access  to  the  card  catalogue,  then  the  notes  must  be 
colorless. 

The  above  card  is  valuable,  not  only  because  it  shows 
ut  a  glance  just  what  the  member  of  the  church  is 

23 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

doing  or  is  not  doing,  but  also  because  it  is  a  family 
card.  It  contains  the  names  of  the  members  of  the 
family.  It  will  be  an  unusual  church  where  the  record 
does  not  show  a  goodly  number  of  non-church-goers  in 
the  families  represented  by  membership  in  the  church. 
It  is  for  such  non-church-goers  that  the  individual 
church  is  especially  and  directly  responsible. 

Another  system  of  cataloguing  the  church-member- 
ship is  by  different  colored  cards.  It  practically  incorpo- 
rates the  ideas  of  the  above  card,  but  uses  one  colored 
card  for  the  church-members,  and  a  card  of  different 
color  for  the  attendants  of  the  church. 

Some  churches  have  a  system  by  which  the  roll  of 
the  communicants  is  checked  at  each  communion 
Sunday  so  as  to  ascertain  the  absentees.  Absence 
from  communion  is  a  very  great  evil.  This  system  is 
suggestive  to  the  pastor  of  those  members  who  are 
becoming  lax  in  the  discharge  of  their  church  duties, 
and  who  possibly  may  be  losing  interest  in  the  great 
work  of  the  Kingdom.  If  followed  more  closely,  we 
doubt  if  some  churches  would  suffer  annually  so  many 
"lost  sheep."  The  following  simple  card  is  used  by 
the  Ruggles  Street  Baptist  Church  of  Boston  :  — 


COMMUNION     CARD. 

Ruggles  Street  Baptist  Church. 


Name, 

Residence^ 
Remarks  f... 


Each  Communicant  is  requested  to  write  his  name  and  address 
legibly,  that  the  attendance  may  be  accurately  kept.  Strangers 
will  kindly  record  the  church  of  which  they  are  members.  Any 
information  of  cases  of  sickness  or  need  will  be  gladly  received 
by  the  Deacons. 


24 


THE  CHURCH-MEMBERS. 

The  Bethany  Presbyterian  Church,  Philadelphia, 
uses  the  communicants'  card  system.  The  following 
is  a  copy  of  the  communication  and  card  coupons 
which  are  mailed  to  every  member  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  year  :  — 


Bethany  Communion  CardNo- 

Name, Residence, . 

JANUARY   COMMUNION 

Bethany  Communion  CardNo 

Name, Residence,. 

MAECH   COMMUNION 

Bethany  Communion  CardNo. 

Name, Residence,. 

MAT   COMMUNION 

Bethany  Communion  CardNo 

Name, Residence,. 

JULY   COMMUNION 

Bethany  Communion  CardNo 

Name, Residence,. 

SEPTEMBER   COMMUNION 

Bethany  Communion  Card  No 

Name, Residence,. 

NOVEMBER   COMMUNION 


25 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

It  of  course  takes  considerable  time  to  enter  the 
returns  of  these  cards,  but  it  is  one  way  of  proving 
a  faithful  shepherd  and  bishop  of  souls. 

Another  system  of  keeping  in  close  touch  with  the 
members  and  of  obtaining  information  as  to  change  in 
the  family  address,  and  a  plan  which  also  magnifies 
their  relation  to  the  church,  is  that  of  an  annual  roll- 
call  of  the  members  of  the  church.  Such  annual  roll- 
call  is  an  established  thing  with  some  denominations, 
and  is  growing  in  favor  with  others. 

But  good  as  these  plans  are,  they  are  not  enough  to 
keep  the  pastor  informed  as  to  the  needs  of  his  people. 
The  sick  and  other  sufferers,  absentees  and  back- 
sliders, would  not,  without  systematic  assistance, 
always  be  known  to  the  minister,  at  least  until  the 
time  of  truest  assistance  is  past.  The  wise  pastor, 
therefore,  surrounds  himself  by  a  good  visiting-staff, 
which  is  of  value  in  many  ways ;  not  only  to  acquaint 
the  minister  with  the  needs  of  the  parish,  but  also  to 
help  him  meet  them;  to  bring  the  people  through 
acquaintance  into  closer  sympathy,  and  promote  that 
fellowship  which  should  be  a  distinguishing  feature  of 
every  community  of  worshipping  Christians. 

Several  different  plans  are  being  pursued  in  parish 
visitation.  The  Rev.  John  L.  Scudder,  D.D.,  pastor 
of  the  Tabernacle,  Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  has  a  band 
of  sixty  helpers  for  visiting,  whom  he  calls  "sub- 
pastors."  The  staff  is  made  up  of  both  men  and 
women ;  each  has  a  list  of  names  of  persons  belonging 
to  the  Tabernacle  Constituency  who  are  kept  track  of, 
and  of  whom  reports  are  made  at  the  time  of  the 
meeting  of  the  committee  with  the  pastor  at  the  hour 
preceding  the  preparatory  lecture.  In  this  way  the 
needs  of  the  people  are  known;  in  case  of  absence 
they  realize  that  they  have  been  remembered,  and  are 
26 


THE   CHURCH-MEMBERS. 

led  to  feel  that,  in  some  measure  at  least,  they  are  a 
part  of,  and  are  important  to,  the  work. 

Another  system  of  parish  visitation  may  be  called 
the  "  block  "or  "  district"  plan.  The  membership  of 
the  congregation  is  divided  geographically  into  a  con- 
venient number  of  districts,  and  the  districts  into 
sections ;  over  each  district  is  placed  an  officer  of  the 
church,  or  a  deaconess,  who  is  supposed  to  interest 
himself  or  herself  in  the  spiritual  or  material  welfare 
of  the  people,  as  the  need  may  be.  That  the  most 
available  person  may  be  obtained,  the  leaders  of  these 
districts  are  sometimes  appointed  from  the  member- 
ship of  the  church  at  large.  Such  leaders  are  usually 
appointed  by  the  pastor,  who  also  suggests  the  names 
of  a  committee  to  work  with  them.  In  other  churches 
the  district  leaders  choose  theu'  own  committee.  Re- 
ports are  made  by  the  members  of  the  visiting  staff  to 
the  leader,  who  in  turn  reports  to  the  pastor ;  urgent 
cases  being  reported  at  once. 

The  parish  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Austin, 
EL,  is  divided  into  four  districts,  with  three  deacon- 
esses over  each,  and  with  two  deacons  to  assist  in  a 
general  way  as  they  may  be  able.  I  take  the  follow- 
ing from  a  leaflet  by  the  pastor.  Rev.  John  Clark 
Hill,  D.D.,  bearing  suggestions  on  the  work  of  the 
deaconesses : — 

' '  The  committee  designated  will  call  to  their  aid 
any  of  the  ladies  (and  men  too)  to  the  work  that 
demands  attention,  and  to  distribute  the  '  calling  lists ' 
as  fui-nished  by  the  pastor  for  the  general  benefit  of 
all.  .  .  .  The  work  should  be  done  in  the  most  quiet 
and  unobtrusive  manner.  We  should  say  nothing 
about  it  in  a  public  way ;  the  less  its  organized  char- 
acter appears  on  the  surface,  the  more  influential  it 
will  be  in  its  working." 

27 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

Teachers'  reports  in  the  Sunday-school  are  also 
valuable  for  keeping  the  pastor  acquainted  with  the 
needs  of  his  people.  Names  and  addresses  of  scholars 
absent  for  two  or  more  successive  Sundays  are  re- 
ported not  only  to  the  superintendent,  but  also  to  the 
minister. 

The  people  of  a  parish  are  a  precious  charge, 
and  every  effort  should  be  made  to  shepherd  them 
closely. 


26 


REACHING  PEOPLE   OUTSIDE   THE  CHURCH. 


CHAPTEE   IV. 

REACHING  PEOPLE  OUTSIDE   THE   CHURCH. 

*'  The  parish  priest  of  austerity  climbed  into  the  high  church  steeple, 

That  he  might  be  near  to  God,  to  hand  His  word  dowTi  to  the  people ; 

Every  day  in  sermon  script,  he  wrote  what  he  thought  came  from 

heaven, 

And  threw  it  down  on  the  people's  heads  two  times  one  day  in  seven. 

In  his  age  God  called  him  down  to  die,  and  he  cried  from  out  the  steeple, 

'  Where  art  thou,  Lord  ? '  and  the  Lord  replied,  '  Down  here,  among 

my  people.' " 

It  is  not  enough  that  the  pastor  know  the  people  of 
his  church ;  he  should  also  know  the  people  about  his 
church.  One  thing  absolutely  essential  to  thorough 
work  on  the  part  of  the  church  is  a  personal  knowl- 
edge of  the  country  and  people  whose  business  it  is 
to  conquer. 

Previous  to  the  Japo-Chinese  war,  the  Japanese 
knew  thoroughly  every  harbor,  river,  and  hill  of  their 
enemy's  territories.  The  Japanese  had  sounded  the 
waters,  and  surveyed  the  lands  of  the  Chinese.  When 
the  time  for  fighting  came,  the  Mikado's  people  knew 
how  advantageously  to  face  their  enemy.  The  Japa- 
nese, too,  did  not  wait  for  the  enemy  to  come  to  them, 
but  went  out  to  the  enemy. 

The  true  church  does  not  wait  for  the  people  to 
come  to  it ;  it  goes  to  the  people,  following  the  com- 
mandment of  Jesus  Christ :  "Go  out  into  the  highways 
and  hedges,  and  compel  them  to  come  in."  ^     Can  it  be 

1  Luke  xiv.  23. 
29 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

gainsaid  that  the  Church  has  not,  comparatively  speak- 
ing, followed  this  method  in  working  for  souls  ?  Pas- 
tors have  been  content  to  preach  from  the  pulpit.  In 
the  face  of  a  well-nigh  empty  church,  a  decreasing 
membership,  and  a  depleted  treasury,  some  of  them 
have  asserted  by  practice  —  if  not  by  word  —  that  two 
services  on  the  Sabbath  and  one  in  mid-week  are  suffi- 
cient to  evangelize  the  world.  When  we  awaken  to 
the  fact  that  he  who  preaches  only  from  the  pulpit 
preaches  only  in  part,  we  shall  have  taken  one  step 
toward  the  Christ  ideal,  — going  after  the  people,  and 
working  for  them  by  such  painstaking  persistency  as 
will  make  applicable  the  golden  metaphor,  "fishers  of 
men ;  "  doing  anything  and  everything  that  will  bring 
the  gospel  to  bear  upon  the  hearts  of  the  people. 

I.  A  successful  and  systematic  method  in  reaching 
people  outside  the  church  is  a  house-to-house  canvass. 
The  purpose  of  such  a  canvass  is  to  learn  who  and 
where  the  people  are;  what  have  been,  if  any,  their 
church  affiliations ;  and  what  are  their  church  prefer- 
ences,—  in  a  word,  what  is  the  religious  and  social 
status  of  the  community.  Much  may  be  said  in  favor 
of  such  a  canvass.  "If  it  is  useful  to  the  Federal 
Government  to  accumulate,  every  decade,  facts  con- 
cerning the  population  living  beneath  the  Stars  and 
Stripes,  it  cannot  but  be  useful  to  the  associated 
Christianity  of  our  country  to  accumulate  facts  to  di- 
rect its  policy.  .  .  .  ShaU  the  Church  of  Christ  be 
willing  to  allow  the  State  to  surpass  her  in  care  and 
culture  of  the  individual?"^ 

In  the  city  a  number  of  churches  usually  co-operate 
in  making  such  canvass.  In  the  country  or  smaller 
city  the  canvass  may  include  all  the  churches  of  the 

1  Manuscript  Report  of  the  Sociological  Canvass  of  the  Fifteenth 
Aissembly  District,  New  York,  1896. 

30 


REACHING  PEOPLE   OUTSIDE   THE   CHURCH. 

community.  These  churches  come  together  through 
their  pastors  or  delegates,  and  apportion  sections  of 
the  district  to  be  canvassed  to  each  church  for  the 
purpose  of  learning  the  church  status  of  each  person 
within  the  district.  Each  church  utilizes  such  working 
force  as  the  pastor  or  person  in  charge  may  determine. 
Some  churches  have  two  or  three  paid  canvassers  for 
taking  the  census.  Other  churches  work  on  the  prin- 
ciple that  the  visiting-staff  should  consist  largely  of 
the  lay-members  of  the  chui'ch,  believing  that  it  is  a 
work  which  the  Christian  has  no  right  to  delegate  to 
another. 

A  careful  record  is  kept  of  every  visit  by  the  can- 
vasser in  a  blank  form  provided  for  that  purpose. 
The  following  form  is  that  which  was  used  by  some 
of  the  churches  of  Philadelphia :  — 


Visitor, 

Territory, 

Address, 

Street. 

o 
6 
7k 

Name  of 

Family 

(or 

Individual). 

i 

s 
to 

1 

1  1 

ill 

"Sag 

i  1 

Church 
attended. 

Church 
Preference 

(if  non- 
attendants). 

Remarks. 

The  following  are  a  part  of  the  directions  which  were 
given  to  the  canvassers  :  — 

31 


MODERN  METHODS  IN   CHURCH  WORK. 

TO  VISITORS. 

Be  careful  to  see  that  each  blank  contains  your  name  and 
address,  and  the  territory  assigned  you,  as  called  for  at  the 
top  of  the  form. 

Get  information  as  complete  as  possible  from  every  house, 
not  neglecting  boarders  and  servants. 

Indicate  by  the  abbreviation  "  Indl."  after  the  name,  when 
it  is  that  of  an  individual  not  the  head  of  the  family. 

Entries  are  to  be  made  in  the  column  headed  "Lan- 
guage" only  when  divine  service  conducted  in  a  foreign 
tongue  is  preferred.  Indicate  in  this  column,  also,  by  the 
abbreviation  "Col."  the  names   of  people  of  color. 

In  the  column  of  "Remarks"  state  in  a  word  any  cu'- 
cumstance  worthy  of  special  notice;  for  example,  "sick," 
"destitute,"  "intemperate,"  "call  immediately." 

As  the  blanks  are  filled,  tear  them  out  at  the  line  of  per- 
foration, and  send  them  promptly  to  your  District  Chak- 
man.  When  your  work  is  finished,  note  the  fact  on  the  last 
blank. 

Please  write  legibly. 

State  your  errand  plainly  and  briefly  at  each  house,  and 
be  particular  to  let  the  parties  know  that  the  visitation  is 
general.  Avoid,  as  far  as  possible,  the  appearance  of  formal 
questioning,  and  taking  notes  in  the  presence  of  the  parties 
visited. 

Remember  that  the  persons  visited  are  under  no  obligation 
to  answer  your  inquiries.  Ask  the  information  courteously 
and  as  a  favor. 

Ascertain,  if  possible,  the  name  of  the  family  residing 
in  the  house,  before  calling. 

Prepare  yourself  by  meditation  and  prayer  for  your  work, 
and,  with  God's  help,  make  it  as  spiritual  as  you  can. 

The  several  churches  making  the  canvass  have  weekly 
or  bi-weekly  meetings,  as  may  seem  advisable,  presided 
over  by  the  chairman  elected  at  the  first  meeting.  Re- 
ports from  each  church  are  given  at  this  time.  The 
names  of  those  persons  who  have  expressed  a  pref- 

3§ 


REACHING  PEOPLE  OUTSIDE   THE   CHURCH. 

erence  for  the  Episcopal  church  are  handed  over  to 
the  Episcopalians,  those  who  have  expressed  a  pref- 
erence for  the  Methodist  church  are  handed  over  to 
the  Methodists,  the  Congregationalist  to  the  Congre- 
gationalists,  the  Presbyterian  to  the  Presbyterians, 
and  so  on  through  the  list.  This  is  the  end  of  the 
canvassing.  Its  purpose  is  simply  to  locate  non- 
church-goers,  and  acquaint  the  churches  so  far  as 
possible  with  the  conditions  of  the  people  about  them. 

It  is  to  be  remembered  in  this  canvass  that  people 
will  frequently  claim  church  relations  and  will  theo- 
retically have  them,  when  practically  they  sustain  no 
definite  church  relationship.  Because  they  were  mar- 
ried in,  or  many  years  ago  the  gi-andmother  was  a 
member  of,  a  certain  church,  they  have  come  to  regard 
that  church,  in  an  indefinite  way,  as  theirs.  Or  it  may 
be  that  the  children  recurrently  with  holiday  times 
attend  the  Sunday-school,  and  so  the  parents  will 
make  claim  to  a  church  home.  Dr.  Paden,  of  the  Hol- 
lond  Memorial  Presbyterian  Church,  Philadelphia,  said 
that  in  a  house-to-house  canvass  of  a  considerable 
district  about  his  church,  hardly  ten  per  cent  of  the 
people  visited  were,  from  their  own  accounts,  without 
a  church  home,  while  practically  he  believed  that  a 
much  larger  per  cent  were  of  the  non-church-going 
classes. 

II.  The  canvass  is  followed  up  by  everything  within 
the  church's  power  for  winning  the  people  to  Christ 
and  to  his  service.  One  of  the  most  successful  means, 
and  one  that  prepares  for  other  influences,  is  the  house- 
to-house  visitation.  This  method  has  been  attended 
with  blessed  results.  It  is  the  way  the  disciples 
worked,  —  ' '  breaking  bread  from  house  to  house."  The 
people  are  called  upon  by  one  of  the  pastors,  again 
by  some  members  of  the  visiting-staff,  and  again  by 
8  33 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

other  members  of  the  church.  Acquaintance  is  com- 
menced, a  cordial  invitation  to  the  church  services  and 
an  assurance  of  welcome  to  all  the  church  privileges  is 
given.  Visits  are  repeated,  letters  are  written,  church 
notices  are  mailed,  and  little  attentions  are  shown  in 
every  way.  By  and  by  the  door  of  the  heart  stands 
ajar.  These  little  things,  by  the  interpreting  power  of 
a  Christ-like  personality,  have  accomplished  the  end : 
the  people  are  won  to  Jesus  Christ  and  to  his  service. 

In  a  community  of  about  twenty-four  thousand  pop- 
ulation, the  nineteenth  monthly  report  of  such  visi- 
tation "  started  into  the  beginnings  of  church  life 
thirty-eight  families."  ^  This  ought  to  teach  us  the 
lesson  of  patience  and  perseverance.  It  takes  time  for 
thoughts  to  mature  and  for  new  purposes  to  form. 

Other  results  of  this  canvassing  and  systematic  visi- 
tation may  be  mentioned.  In  the  city  of  Rochester, 
N. Y. ,  recently  about  forty  families  were  anchored  within 
the  fellowship  of  the  church,  as  a  result  of  a  house-to- 
house  canvass  by  two  churches  of  that  city.  This  is 
the  more  significant  when  we  remember  what  a  church- 
going  community  Rochester  is,  and  that  the  canvass  was 
made  by  the  Brick  Church,  which  has  a  membership  of 
1,935,  and  by  the  Central  Church,  which  has  a  member- 
ship of  1,712.  It  is  stirring  to  see  pastors  of  such 
large  churches  with  feelings  of  responsibility  even  for 
''sheep  not  of  their  fold."  In  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  387 
families  were  started  into  the  beginnings  of  church  life 
in  one  month's  time,  —  not  into  active  membership,  but 
into  definite  church  connections  ;  children  in  the  Sun- 
day-school, and  older  people  in  some  department  of 
the  chui-ch.  In  the  town  of  Montclair,  N.  J.,  at  the 
first  monthly  report,    the  churches  gave   a   classified 

1  Rev.  Frank  KusseU,  D.D.,  Report  of  the  Christian  Conference^ 
Chickermg  Hall,  New  York,  1888,  p.  172. 

u 


REACHING  PEOPLE   OUTSIDE   THE   CHURCH. 

list  of  an  aggregate  of  614  names  and  addresses  of 
young  men  and  young  women  who  were  not  connected 
with  any  evangelical  church.  One  of  the  pastors 
present  said,  "  My  brethren,  would  you  have  guessed 
a  hundred  such  persons  in  our  little  community  of  less 
than  five  thousand  population  ?  The  fact  that  we  have 
them  is  worth  twenty  times  as  much  as  all  these  con- 
ferences that  led  the  way  to  such  lists  and  classifica- 
tions have  cost  us."  ^  "When  Rev.  G.  R.  Pike  assumed 
the  pastorate  of  the  Greenstone  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Pullman,  111.,  in  1894,  he  at  once  made  a  study  of 
his  new  field.  A  canvass  of  the  town  was  organized, 
and  the  name,  residence,  and  church  relationship  of 
every  person  (at  that  time  some  eight  thousand)  was 
ascertained.  ]Mi\  Pike  says:  "The  striking  discovery 
was  made  that  there  was  a  body  of  from  twelve  to 
fifteen  hundred  unmarried  men  scattered  about  in  pri- 
vate families  and  lodging-houses ;  obviously,  here  was 
a  class  needing  special  attention."  Dr.  Thomas  Chal- 
mers had  his  whole  parish  in  Glasgow  divided  into  dis- 
tricts, containing  about  twenty-five  families  in  each. 
He  assigned  two  visitors  to  each  of  these  little  fields, 
and  kept  himself  informed  as  to  the  work  by  monthly 
reports.  His  canvass  showed  eight  hundred  families 
who  were  without  church  connections,  but  through  the 
efforts  of  the  church  six  hundred  families  were  devel- 
oped into  regular  attendants  of  the  church.  The 
Hanson  Street  Baptist  Church  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  con- 
ducted a  house-to-house  canvass  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  the  church.  Although  this  church  is  located 
at  the  heart  of  the  church-going  population  of  Brook- 
lyn, out  of  the  forty  thousand  people  canvassed  eight 
thousand  were  found  to  be  without  a  church  home. 

1  Rev.  Frank  Russell,  D.D.,  Report  of  the  Christian  ConferencCj 
Chickering  Hall,  New  York,  1888,  p.  171. 

a5 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

But  it  is  not  necessary  to  multiply  these  illustrations. 
Out  of  the  many  who  wrote  me  of  their  work  in  this 
line,  only  one  reported  discouragements.  A  pastor  in 
New  York  City,  while  acknowledging  that  his  church 
through  the  house-to-house  canvass  came  into  possession 
of  the  addresses  of  a  goodly  number  of  non-church- 
going  people,  said  that  he  did  not  know  of  "one  per- 
son who  had  come  into  the  church  as  a  result  of  the 
canvass."  Is  not  this  a  humiliating  confession? 
A  list  of  non-church-goers  is  of  no  value  unless  it  is 
used.  When  Elijah  raised  the  dead  boy  to  life,  it 
was  necessary  to  do  more  than  find  the  corpse,  he 
had  to  spread  himself  upon  it.  We  must  keep  in 
close  touch  with  the  non-church-going  community, 
follow  them  up  constantly,  cling  to  them,  never  let 
go. 

There  is  no  larger  field  for  the  personal  activity  of 
the  members  of  the  church  than  that  offered  by  house- 
to-house  visitation,  and  it  is  a  comparatively  easy  thing 
to  go  with  at  least  a  personal  invitation  to  the  church 
service,  when  the  entree  has  been  given  by  the  house-to- 
house  canvass.  Let  there  be  a  heart  interest  born  of 
Christ  love,  and  there  will  be  blessed  results.  Bishop 
Andrews  has  well  said  :  "  It  will  be  a  new  reformation, 
the  proper  enlargement  and  completion  of  the  Lutheran 
Reformation,  when  somehow  or  other  it  shall  come  to 
be  understood  that  all  the  Lord's  people  are  prophets. 
When,  not  out  of  a  mere  sense  of  duty,  not  because 
they  feel  that  they  must  do  it,  but  out  of  a  great  sense 
of  the  good  which  Christ  offers  and  the  natural  desire 
of  loving  hearts  to  give  that  good  to  others,  all  the 
young  men  and  the  young  women  of  the  world,  and 
the  older  men  and  women,  all  these  shall  use  this  won- 
drous gift  of  speech  to  persuade  others  to  be  reconciled 
to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.     The  fault  of  the  churches 

36 


REACHING  PEOPLE  OUTSIDE   THE   CHURCH 

is  this,  that  we  are  doing  but  very  little  personal 
labor  for  the  Kingdom  of  Christ."  ^ 

Much  is  accomplished  in  this  personal  work,  though 
the  people  visited  are  not  brought  within  church  affili- 
ations. The  various  visits  in  the  community  are  as 
fountains  of  water  upon  an  arid  desert.  Every  family 
visited  is  another  sti-eam  of  gospel  blessing.  Thus 
religious  sentiments  and  ideas  percolate  the  commu- 
nity, and  inevitably  its  whole  moral  and  religious 
tone  is  raised  and  society  is  uplifted.  We  should 
keep  in  mind,  therefore,  that  the  object  of  oui*  per- 
sonal work  and  visitation  is  for  society  as  well  as  the 
individual. 

A  canvass  with  a  view  of  ascertaining  more  than  the 
religious  status  of  the  community  was  undertaken  dur- 
ing the  past  winter  by  the  Federation  of  the  Churches 
and  Christian  Workers  of  New  York  City.  They  made  a 
sociological  canvass  of  the  Fifteenth  Assembly  District, 
and  gave  their  visitors  the  following  instructions  :  "To 
ascertain  rents  from  the  janitor ;  to  preserve  only  the 
surname  of  each  family;  to  register  nationality  accord- 
ing to  mothers ;  to  enter  the  age  of  each  child ;  to  as- 
certain for  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  the  number  of  male 
boarders  between  sixteen  and  twenty  years  of  age ;  to 
specify  the  church  attended  by  the  family  and  the  Sun- 
day-school attended  by  the  children ;  and  on  the  line 
*  Water  on  Floor '  to  register  every  family  possessing 
a  private  bathtub  and  sanitary  conveniences.  Visi- 
tors were  also  instructed  to  make  notes  concerning 
cleanliness  and  thrift,  and  to  inquire,  whenever  feasible, 
in  what  way  the  church  can  be  most  useful  to  the 
families  visited."  ^ 

1  Report  of  the  Christian  Convention,  Chickeriug  Hall,  New 
York,  1888,  p.  181. 

2  Manuscript  Report  of  the  Sociological  Canvass. 

37 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

What  a  field  for  thought,  what  an  opening  for  ac- 
tivity, such  a  canvass  affords !  The  Church  by  this 
means  comes  into  intimate  relationship  with  the  inner 
life  of  the  community.  She  finds  where  the  dangers 
that  environ  the  people  lie,  where  oppression  touches 
them,  where  sanitation  is  neglected,  where  law  is  vio- 
lated. She  gathers  facts  that  point  to  the  remedy  for 
existing  evils.  She  comes  into  personal  touch  with  the 
life  of  the  working  man  and  woman,  learns  their 
amusements  and  their  need  of  amusement,  their  social 
as  well  as  their  spiritual  needs,  and,  looking  at  society 
from  this  standpoint,  understands  many  things  that 
will  prove  invaluable  in  her  great  work  for  the  regener- 
ation of  society. 

The  Sociological  Canvass  referred  to  revealed  the 
fact  that  within  the  district  covered  by  it  1,579  fami- 
lies have  only  seventeen  bathtubs,  and  1,079  of  these 
families  in  the  poorest  part  of  this  district  have  but 
five  bathtubs.  Also  that  there  were  one  hundred  and 
thirty-one  places  where  liquor  is  sold  to  only  eight 
churches,  and  that  these  churches  had  within  their  ter- 
ritory 5,807  non-church-members  and  8,397  non- 
attendants.  The  fact  is,  these  non-church-members 
and  non-church-attendants  are  closely  allied  to  the 
non-bathtubs,  non-playgrounds,  and  non-healthy  con- 
ditions, and  lastly  and  chiefly  to  the  non-realization 
among  Christians  that  we  are  to  work  for  the  salvation 
of  society  as  well  as  the  salvation  of  the  individual, 
and  that  ' '  to  put  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  into  an  individ- 
ual, we  must  put  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  into  society."^ 
It  is  of  little  avail  to  bring  families  into  church  two 
hours  in  the  week  and  send  them  to  "  Hell's  Kitchen  "  to 
live  one  hundred  and  sixty-six  hours  in  the  week,  where 

1  Rev.  Lymau  Abbott,  D.D.,  Second  Convention  of  Christian 
Workers,  New  York,  1887,  p.  I2l. 
38 


REACHING  PEOPLE  OUtSIDE  THE  CH:URCH. 

vice,  vulgarity,  profanity,  filth,  and  crime  poison  and 
debase,  and  where  every  influence  breeds  moral  leprosy 
and  ''the  spirits  of  the  air"  drag  to  perdition.  We 
must  have  society  Christian  from  centre  to  circumfer- 
ence, must  seek  not  only  to  fortify  against  temptation 
but  also  to  remove  temptation ;  instead  of  now  and  then 
reclaiming  our  boys,  saving  a  drunkard,  or  rescuing  a 
fallen  woman,  we  must  make  efforts  to  kill  the  saloon, 
shut  up  the  gambling-dens,  and  wipe  out  the  brothel. 
True,  we  must  continue  to  work  for  the  individual ;  but 
society  is  the  aggi-egate  of  the  individuals,  and  what- 
ever therefore  affects  their  organic  relations  demands 
our  time  and  thought.  Professor  Richard  T.  Ely  well 
says :  "  It  is  as  truly  a  religious  work  to  pass  good  laws 
as  it  is  to  preach  sermons ;  as  holy  a  work  to  lead  a 
crusade  against  filth,  vice,  and  disease  in  slums  of 
cities,  and  to  seek  the  abolition  of  the  disgraceful  ten- 
ement'houses  of  American  cities,  as  it  is  to  send  mis- 
sionaries to  the  heathen."  ^ 

Only  as  the  Church  comes  into  personal  touch  with 
the  people,  will  it  know  what  is  best  to  do  for  them 
and  how  best  to  do  it.  The  great  mistake  of  the  past, 
I  believe,  has  been  the  divorcing  of  work  for  society 
from  work  for  the  individual.  This  has  given  rise  to 
what  is  popularly  known,  on  the  one  hand,  as  the 
"  religion  of  humanity  "  and  on  the  other,  what  has 
been  too  narrowly  called  *'  Christianity."  Neither 
position  alone  is  right.  Both  are  fractional.  The 
truth  is  only  in  the  union  of  the  two.  Only  as  we 
seek  the  salvation  of  men  and  the  redemption  of  the 
WORLD  are  we  worthy  the  name  of  followers  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Chiist. 

^  Social  Aspects  of  Christianity,  p.  73. 

39 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 


CHAPTEE  V. 

PERSONAL    WORK. 

To  win  men,  one  by  one,  to  personal  allegiance  to  Christ  is  finally 
the  whole  problem  of  the  kingdom  of  God  on  earth  ;  and  to  learn  to  do 
this  is  the  precise  aim  of  training-class  work.  A  mechanical  learning  of 
methods  is  here,  therefore,  utterly  beside  the  mark  ;  since  a  man's  re- 
lation to  Christ  must  be  vital  and  personal,  and  there  can  be  no  me- 
chanical production  of  life.  In  general  we  may  not  hope  to  bring  an- 
other into  any  closer  relation  to  Christ  than  we  ourselves  hold  ;  for  the 
sake  of  others,  therefore,  as  well  as  for  ourselves,  we  need  first  and 
most  of  all  to  come  under  the  direct  impression  and  influence  of  Christ ; 
to  ripen  that  acquaintance  with  God  in  Christ  which  is  eternal  life. 

Henry  Churchill  King. 

If  all  the  people  who  inwardly  say,  as  King  Agrippa 
said  to  Paul,  ''Almost  thou  persuadest  me  to  be  a 
Christian,"  should  stand  up,  they  would,  I  believe,  be 
like  the  stars  for  number ! 

There  are  various  ways  of  dealing  with  these  ' '  al- 
mosts  "  and  with  the  non-Christian  community. 

Systematic  personal  effort  for  winning  souls  is  the 
practice  of  many  churches,  and  there  is  an  increasing 
disposition  to  return  to  this  Apostolic  way  of  working. 
How  often  Jesus  preached  to  an  audience  of  one !  It 
was  the  Rev.  Dr.  Cumming,  of  Glasgow,  who  said,  "  If 
I  take  the  last  few  years  of  my  ministry,  I  can  trace 
far  more  decided  fruit  from  personal  dealing  with  indi- 
vidual souls  than  from  all  my  preaching  besides.  You 
cannot  tell  how  it  is  with  a  man's  heart  about  religious 
difficulties,  about  his  understanding  of  how  and  what  to 
do  when  he  comes  to  Christ,  till  you  get  side  by  side 
with  him  and  get  him  to  tell  you  what  the  diflQculty  is.** 

40 


PERSONAL  WORK. 

It  is  "  only  a  step  "  between  many  a  soul  and  Jesus ; 
and  it  is  not  always  indifference  that  restrains  from 
taking  that  step.  There  are  oftentimes  real  difliculties, 
and  it  is  not  always  known  that  difficulties  and  doubts 
can  be  put  down  at  the  Saviour's  feet.  As  JVIr.  Moody 
has  said,  the  devil  places  a  straw  in  the  way  and  mag- 
nifies it  into  a  mountain.  The  real  hindrance  might 
not  be  met  by  sermons  in  years.  There  is  a  simple 
and  systematic  plan  of  getting  at  the  basis  of  the  trou- 
ble. In  the  chapter  on  "Church-Members,  Who  are 
They  and  What  are  They  ?  "  the  card  system  suggested 
gives  the  religious  status  of  those  even  distantly  con- 
nected with  the  church.  From  these  cards  a  list  may 
be  made,  bearing  the  names  and  addresses  of  all  who 
are  not  Christians,  and  another  list  of  all  who  are 
Christians  but  not  church-members.  The  list  is  added 
to,  as  new  names  are  obtained.  The  people  should  be 
encouraged  to  report  their  interest  in  the  spiritual  wel- 
fare of  others.  To  this  end  the  Ruggles  Street  Bap- 
tist Church,  Boston,  uses  the  following  card :  — 


Dear  Pastor,  —  I  am  personally  and  prayerfully 
interested  in  the  conversion  of  the  folloiving  persons : 

NAME. 

ADDRESS. 

Yours  very  truly, 1 

Addre. 

JS, 

The  lists  of  names  are  before  the  pastor  constantly, 
and  he  either  calls  personally  on  these  people  or  assigns 

41 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

some  one  to  call,  that  tlie  question  of  their  relation  to 
Jesus  Christ  and  to  the  church  may  be  brought  to 
them,  face  to  face.  Such  calls,  when  prompted  by 
sincere  interest,  are  almost  always  welcome !  But  if  not 
welcome,  why  be  discouraged?  A  minister  in  an  East- 
ern city  called  on  a  man  of  his  congregation  with  view 
to  his  soul's  interest.  The  man  listened  attentively, 
though  he  appeared  somewhat  displeased.  The  pastor 
knelt  in  prayer,  but  the  man  kept  his  seat.  The  next 
prayer-meeting  night,  however,  this  man  came  to  the 
meeting,  and  at  its  close,  when  opportunity  was  given 
for  confessing  Jesus  Christ,  he  was  the  first  one  to  his 
feet,  —  much  to  the  joy  and  comfort  of  his  pastor  and 
family.  Another  interesting  case  is  that  of  a  young 
woman  who  rudely  repelled  the  personal  interest  of  a 
friend.  The  two  separated  and  did  not  meet  for  si 
number  of  years.  The  young  woman  with  shining  face 
then  told  her  story.  ''You  annoyed  me,"  she  said, 
"  but  your  words  were  as  good  seed.  I  had  no  rest 
from  the  hour  you  spoke  to  me  till  I  gave  myself  to 
Christ,  but  I  have  been  happy  in  his  service  ever 
since."  Three  things  are  to  be  remembered  in  this  per- 
sonal work  :  prayer,  patience,  and  persistence.  Never 
let  go  of  any  one.  Never  show  impatience.  An  earnest 
church-worker  told  me  of  writing  to  a  lady  friend,  ask- 
ing the  privilege  of  talking  with  her  of  her  relation  to 
Jesus  Christ.  The  women  were  of  the  same  social 
standing ;  but  the  letter  was  never  answered,  although 
the  woman  addressed  would  not,  under  other  circum- 
stances, have  suffered  herself  to  appear  discourteous. 
The  friend  who  wrote  the  letter  was  not  so  foolish, 
however,  as  to  be  offended,  but,  meeting  the  woman  in 
public  a  few  days  later,  took  especial  pains  to  shake 
hands  cordially,  to  show  a  bright  face  and  friendly 
interest.     Thus  she  won  her  friend's  heart   and   pre- 

42 


PERSONAL  WORK. 

pared  the  way  for  winning  her  to  Christ.  One  church 
has  come  before  me  where  pastor  and  people  have 
worked  and  prayed  for  certain  families  and  individuals 
for  a  number  of  years  before  results  were  realized. 

That  two-thirds  of  the  earth's  people  have  not  even 
heard  of  the  name  of  Jesus  is  due  to  the  fact,  I  believe, 
that  Christian  people  have  done  little  jpersoyial  work, 
though  they  may  have  liberally  supported  the  general 
church  work.  Can  it  be  gainsaid  that  the  Christian 
Church  has  not  been  reaching  the  people  as  she  should  ? 
Let  us  consider  this  question  from  four  different 
standpoints :  the  average  cost  of  a  convert,  the  aver- 
age number  of  converts  to  a  church,  the  average  num- 
ber of  church-members  to  a  convert,  and  the  number 
of  churches  that  report  no  converts  after  a  whole  year's 
work.  First,  as  to  the  cost  of  a  convert.  While  it  is 
true  that  no  money  value  can  be  placed  upon  a  soul, 
yet  financial  matters  are  hard  facts  and  must  be  con- 
sidered whether  we  want  to  or  not,  and  in  the  spirit  of 
honest  inquiry  we  may  ask  if  the  money  expended 
annually  by  the  churches  is  represented  by  such 
results  as  reasonably  might  be  expected.  This  reason- 
ing does  not  overlook  the  varied  activities  of  the 
church,  and  the  fact  that  much  energy,  time,  and  money 
must  be  spent  for  those  gracious  ministries  whose 
immediate  end  is  other  than  reaching  the  unconverted ; 
does  not  overlook,  because  the  resultant  of  all  minis- 
try—  hearts  comforted,  sufferings  alleviated,  persons 
helped,  benevolences  given,  and  all  Christian  activi- 
ties —  should  be  the  training  and  placing  of  Chris- 
tian soldiers,  soid-winners^  in  our  Church  militant, 
that  the  number  "added  to  the  Church  daily"  may 
increase. 

The  following   tables  show  the  average  number  of 
additions  by  letter  and  confession  (or  confirmation),  and 
43 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

the  average  number  by  confession  only,  to  each  church, 
together  with  the  amount  of  money  expended  for  paro- 
chial purposes,  in  the  United  States  during  the  past 
five  years  in  four  different  denominations.  The  amount 
of  money  that  each  convert  cost  (that  is,  each  church 
addition  by  confession  or  confirmation)  is  computed 
from  these  figures. 


1891. 

1 

1 
a 

6 

Total 
No. 
Addi- 
tions. 

Average 
No. 

Addi- 
tions to 

each 
Church. 

Total 
Addi- 
tions on 

Con- 
fession. 

Average  No. 
Additions  by 
Confession  or 
Confirmation. 

Congre- 
gational 
Expenses. 

n 

H 
< « 

Episcopal 

5,398 

41,261 

7.6 

41,261 

7.6 

$11,210,095 

$271 

Presbyterian,  N. 

6,819 

95,909 

14 

58,102 

8.5 

9,550,501 

164 

Congregational 

4,985 

52,086 

10.4 

30,614 

6.1 

6,791,607 

222 

Baptist 

35,860 

280,150 

7.8 

172,261 

4.7 

7,740,091 

44 

1893. 

Episcopal 

5,546 

43,575 

7.8 

43,575 

7.8 

1111,210,095 

$257 

Preabyterian,N. 

6,946 

93,714 

13.4 

55,310 

7.9 

11,032,126 

181 

Congregational 

5,140 

54,576 

11.2 

31,582 

6.1 

7,140,092 

226 

Baptist 

36,793 

288,891 

7.8 

177,676 

5.9 

9,999,859 

58 

1893. 

Episcopal 

5,570 

42,466 

7.6 

42,466 

7.6 

$10,544,737 

$248 

Presbyterian,  N. 

7,038 

96,483 

13.7 

57,506 

8.1 

10,502,208 

182 

Congregational 

5,236 

57,561 

10.9 

34,444 

6.5 

7,005,338 

226 

Baptist 

38,122 

303,344 

7.1 

189,734 

4.9 

7,986,668 

42 

44 


PERSONAL  WORK. 


1894. 


Episcopal 
Presbyterian,  N. 
Congregational 
Baptist 


5,803 

7,112 

5,342 

37,910 


Total 
No. 
Addi- 
tions. 


42,971 
114,353 

62,946 
338,865 


Average 

No. 
Addi- 
tions to 

each 
Church. 


7.4 
16 
11.7 


Total 
Addi- 
tions on 

Con- 
fession. 


42,970 

72,967 

38,853 

220,340 


s.isa 

t-'d  o  o 


7.4 

10.2 

7.2 

5.8 


Congre- 
gational 
Expenses. 


II 


$10,644,737  $245 


10,285,083 
7,035,307 
8,046,668 


1895. 


Episcopal 

5,885 

45,261 

7.6 

45,261 

7.6 

$10,544,737 

Presbyterian,  N. 

7,202 

104,146 

14.4 

65,639 

9.1 

9,899,691 

Congregational 

5,347 

57,932 

10.8 

35,327 

6.6 

6,707,613 

Baptist 

40,064 

299,109 

7.4 

188,728 

2.1 

8,202,985 

$232 
150 
189 
431 


To  look  at  the  matter  from  another  standpoint,  what 
has  been  the  harvest  of  souls  resulting  from  the  per- 
sonal, or  the  combined  personal  and  general,  efforts  of 
church-members  ?  The  following  table  shows  the 
average  number  of  church-members  to  a  convert  for 
each  of  the  past  five  years  in  four  leading  denomi- 
nations in  the  United  States.  No  account  is  made  in 
this   reckoning   of   the  ministers;  and    yet    who  has 

1  a.  The  amount  of  money  expended  by  the  Episcopal  Church 
is  estimated  from  the  triennial  reports  of  the  conventions  of  that 
church.  j8.  No  estimate  of  accessions  to  the  Episcopal  Church  hy 
letter  could  be  obtained,  y.  The  figures  for  the  Baptist  Church 
include  all  different  branches  of  that  church  in  the  United  States. 
5.  No  estimate  could  be  given  of  other  leading  denominations  in 
the  United  States  because  of  the  want  of  accurate  figures  of  those 
denominations  as  to  their  increase  on  confession.  «.  The  figures  for 
the  Presbyterian  Church  are  for  the  Presbyterian  Church,  North, 

45 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

done  most  in  bringing  about  these  conversions,  —  the 
ministers  or  the  people?  If  the  former,  then  the  table 
would  make  a  far  more  humiliating  showing  than  it 
does. 


1891. 

Churches. 

Ministers. 

Members. 

Converts. 

Average 
No.  Church- 
members  to  a 
Convert. 

Congregational   . 

4,886 

595,397 

30,614 

19.44 

Presbyterian,  N. 

5,991 

790,827 

58,112 

13.60 

Episcopal  .    .    . 

4,088 

526,276 

41,261 

12.75 

Baptist  .... 

23,800 

3,269,806 

172,262 

18.98 

1892. 

Congregational   . 

5,003 

615,757 

31,582 

19.49 

Presbyterian,  N. 

6,061 

813,327 

55,310 

14.70 

Episcopal  .     .     . 

4,261 

543,275 

43,575 

12.46 

Baptist  .... 

24,798 

3,383,100 

177,676 

19.04 

1893. 

Congregational  . 

5,138 

637,008 

34,444 

18.49 

Presbyterian,  N. 

6,236 

837,984 

57,506 

14.57 

Episcopal  .     .    . 

4,348 

561,957 

42,466 

13.23 

Baptist  .... 

25,354 

3,496,988 

189,734 

18.43 

1894. 

Congregational   . 

5,287 

660,339 

38,853 

16.99 

Presbyterian,  N. 

6,348 

877,896 

72,967 

12.03 

Episcopal  .    .    . 

4,384 

591,317 

42,971 

13.76 

Baptist  .... 

27,091 

3,63Y,421 

220,340 

16.50 

46 


PERSONAL  WORK. 


1895. 

Churches. 

Ministers. 

Members. 

Converts. 

Average 

No.  Church- 

members  to  a 

Convert. 

Congregational   . 

5,347 

680,518 

35,327 

19.26 

Presbyterian,  N. 

6,506 

903,648 

65,039 

13.76 

Episcopal   .     .     . 

4,487 

616,843 

45,261 

13.62 

Baptist  .... 

27,774 

3,720,235 

188,778 

19.76 

According  to  these  figures,  in  1895  for  example,  it 
took  19.26  church-members  to  one  convert  in  the 
Congregational  Church,  to  say  nothing  of  the  work  of 
the  5,347  ministers  of  that  denomination;  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church  it  took  13.76  members  to  one 
convert,  in  addition  to  her  6,506  ministers ;  in  the 
Episcopal  Church  13.62  members  to  every  one  received 
by  confirmation,  not  mentioning  her  4,487  clergymen ; 
and  in  the  Baptist  Church  it  took  19.76  members  to 
every  addition  by  confession,  in  addition  to  the  27,774 
ministers  of  that  denomination.  As  seen  by  the  above 
table,  also,  the  average  cost  of  every  addition  by 
confession  (or  confirmation)  during  each  of  the  past 
five  years,  —  averaging  the  cost  to  the  Congrega- 
tional, Presbyterian,  Baptist,  and  Episcopal  Churches, 
—  is  $167.04;  and  it  has  taken  on  an  average  16.04 
church-members  to  one  convert  during  each  of  the 
past  five  years,  again  averaging  the  same  denomina- 
tions, to  say  nothing  of  the  work  of  their  thousands 
of  ministers,  while  the  average  number  of  annual 
additions  on  confession  (or  confirmation)  to  each 
church  of  these  denominations  has  been  but  6.89 
members. 

There  are  yet  other  facts  appalling  in  their  revela- 
tion.    In  the  United  States  there  aro  7,469  Presby- 

47 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

terian  churches,  and  of  this  number  about  one-fifth, 
or  1,509  churches,  accordmg  to  the  minutes  of  the 
General  Assembly  for  1896,  reported  that  they  had 
received  no  members  on  confession  of  their  faith  during 
all  the  months  of  the  preceding  year.  In  the  North 
Central  States,  out  of  a  total  of  2,971  churches,  661 
churches,  or  one  church  out  of  every  four  and  one-half 
churches,  reported  that  they  had  not  one  convert  after 
twelve  months  of  work.  In  California  one  church  out 
of  every  three  reported  no  converts.  Even  in  New 
York  State,  where  the  Presbyterian  Church  is  so 
strongly  organized  and  has  the  prestige  of  years,  one 
church  out  of  every  eight  reported  that  they  had  not 
one  convert  to  show  for  the  work  of  the  entire  year. 

Turning  now  to  another  leading  denomination, 
we  find  that  out  of  the  5,482  Congregational  churches 
in  the  United  States,  according  to  the  Year  Book 
for  1896,  1,438  churches,  or,  in  other  words,  more 
than  one-fourth  of  all  the  churches,  reported  that 
they  had  not  so  much  as  07ie  convert  to  show  for  the 
year's  work. 

In  the  New  England  States  470  churches  out  of  the 
1,582  reported  no  additions  on  confession  of  their  faith, 
and  580  of  the  2,188  churches  in  the  North  Central 
States,  or  one  church  out  of  every  four,  reported  no 
converts  after  twelve  months  of  toil.  In  the  Rocky 
Mountain  and  the  Pacific  States  the  record  is  raised  by  a 
fraction,  one  church  out  of  about  every  four  and  one- 
half  reporting  no  additions  by  confession.^  It  is  to  be 
acknowledged  that  many  of  these  churches  are  the 
smaller  churches,  but  this  is  by  no  means  true  with  all. 

1  In  preparing  these  statistics  for  the  Presbyterian  and  Congre- 
gational denominations,  I  have,  when  the  report  of  a  church 
was  largely  incomplete,  given  the  church  the  benefit  of  the  doubt. 
These  statistics  therefore  are  conservative. 

48 


PERSONAL  WORK. 

Many  have  close  to  one  hundred  members,  some  over 
two  hundred  members,  still  others  over  three  hundred 
members.  Yet,  with  all  their  working  forces,  — 
preachers,  teachers,  officers,  Sunday-schools,  and  or- 
ganized societies,  —  there  is  not  one  convert  to  show  for 
all  the  year's  work.  What  a  record !  While  statistics 
of  this  kind  are  not  so  accessible  for  other  denomi- 
nations, there  is  reason  for  believing  that  the  Presby- 
terian and  Congregational  churches  are  not  exceptions 
in  the  record  of  church  work. 

Dr.  Josiah  Strong  has  shown  that,  taking  80,000 
churches  together  in  the  United  States,  their  annual 
additions  on  confession  of  faith  are  only  five  per  cent 
of  their  membership,  and  significantly  adds  that  at 
this  rate  it 'would  take  these  churches  twenty  years  — 
even  though  they  suuered  no  losses  by  death  —  to 
make  an  increase  of  one-fold,  to  say  nothing  of  an 
increase  of  thirty  or  sixty  or  a  hundred  fold  of  which 
our  Master  talked  !  ^ 

If  Christians  had  been  faithful  in  personal  work, 
could  the  results  have  been  so  small  ?  At  this  rate, 
how  long  will  it  take  to  win  the  world  for  Christ? 
When  may  we  hope  that  his  Kingdom  will  come? 
But  that  so  little  personal  work  is  done  is  not  always 
the  fault  of  the  church-members.  The  sins  of  their 
neglect  will  be  upon  many  a  minister ;  or  must  we  go 
a  step  farther  back,  to  their  training  in  our  theological 
seminaries,  to  find  the  real  source  of  this  neglect? 
The  people  must  be  told  how  to  work  personally !  The 
pastor,  who  makes  the  business  of  the  Kingdom  his 
one  business,  ought  to  be  fruitful  of  suggestions  to 
his  people  for  ways  of  working.  To  unfold  the  Word 
of  God  and  to  find  ways  for  its  practical  application, 
have  been  his  one  study.  To  this  end  he  labors  and 
1  The  New  Era,  p.  357. 

4  49 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

toils  and  plans,  only  to  find  himself  perplexed  often- 
times as  to  what  is  wisest  to  do.  If  the  best  way  of 
working,  then,  is  not  always  patent  to  the  pastor, 
much  less  must  it  be  to  the  people !  The  minister  must 
come  to  their  aid,  —  make  suggestions  out  of  his 
larger  experience  and  more  thoughtful  study.  Should 
not  more  time  be  given  to  the  study  of  ways  of  win- 
ning souls  ?  There  are  many  Christians  who  would  be 
glad  to  do  the  work  and  hunger  for  it,  but  they  do 
not  know  how,  and  when  they  try  make  a  sad  failure 
of  it.  This  need  is  being  met  by  many  pastors  in 
having  a  Workers'  Training-Class.  The  object  of  the 
class  is  to  give  practical  suggestions  as  to  how  to  deal 
with  inquirers  and  the  unsaved.  Professor  Henry  C. 
King,  of  Oberlin,  Ohio,  who  teaches  such  a  class,  takes 
up  six  typical  cases  which  practically  cover  the  various 
conditions  of  mind  and  heart  with  which  one  is  likely 
to  meet.  They  are  as  follows:  "The  willing  but 
ignorant,  those  lacking  conviction,  the  wilfully  indif- 
ferent, the  doubter,  the  young  Christian,  and  those 
turning  back."  In  instructing  his  class  how  to  deal 
with  these  cases.  Professor  King  gives  the  following 
plain  directions:  "State  the  condition  of  the  person 
to  yourself  in  different  forms.  Get  it  clearly  and  in- 
dividually before  you,  —  the  precise  point  to  be  met, 
the  man's  attitude  and  need.  Ask,  in  dealing  with  just 
such  a  person,  what  dangers  must  be  guarded  against. 
Now  ask  what  exactly  is  involved  in  the  position  of 
this  person,  —  naturally,  necessarily  involved.  And 
this  necessary  implication  means  that  some  truth  is 
set  aside,  overlooked,  left  out  of  account.  What 
exactly  is  that  needed  truth?  Now  search  for  the 
passages  (maybe  whole  books  or  trend  of  Scripture) 
enforcing  and  emphasizing  the  points  brought  out  in 
the  truth  needed." 

50 


PERSONAL  WORK. 

These  classes,  as  conducted  by  various  churches, 
are  composed  of  both  sexes  and  of  all  ages.  Some  of 
the  classes  are  called  "  Win-One  Circles."  The  re- 
quirement of  membership  in  these  circles  is  that  at 
least  one  soul  shall  be  selected,  prayed  for,  worked  for, 
and,  if  possible,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  won.  The 
pastor  meets  the  society  as  a  whole  or  in  divisions 
at  such  times  as  the  needs  and  local  conditions  render 
practicable.  Instruction  is  then  given  and  reports 
heard  of  work  done.  The  Rev.  Arthur  Leonard  Wads- 
worth,  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  Rock- 
land, Mass.,  in  speaking  of  his  "Win-One  Circle," 
says:  "Furthermore,  my  aim  is  to  have  a  body  of 
Christian  workers  who  shall  do  whatever  is  asked  of 
them  in  time  of  special  services,  be  able  to  lead  prayer- 
meetings  in  cottages  and  school-houses  and  to  point 
inquirers  to  the  Lamb  of  God." 

This  is,  I  believe,  one  of  the  first  circles  with  which 
a  pastor  should  be  surrounded.  What  a  feeling  of 
strength  it  would  give  !  What  a  spiritual  force  in  the 
church  and  community  it  would  be!  A  company  of 
people  banded  together  to  study  God's  W^ord,  —  to  pray 
and  to  plan  for  the  salvation  of  souls !  The  ' '  win- 
one  "  idea,  however,  need  not  be  confined  to  the 
members  of  that  circle.  Why  should  not  the  plan  of 
assigning  individuals  to  individuals  be  carried  out  in 
every  society  and  with  every  church-member?  This 
would  mean  the  ingathering  of  many  who  are  without 
the  church  fold.  But  those  who  do  this  work  should 
realize  that  it  must  be  done  quietly  and  wisely  as  well 
as  prayerfully. 

For  those  members  of  the  church  who  are  not  able 

to  attend  the  "  Win-One  Circle"  or  the  training-class, 

if  not  for  all,  many  of  the  precepts  and  principles  in 

these  workers'   classes   should    be    put  into   definite 

51 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHUliCH  WORK. 

directions  for  aiding  in  the  general  work  of  the 
church. 

To  this  end  Rev.  Russell  H.  Conwell,  D.D.,  pastor 
of  the  Baptist  Temple,  Philadelphia,  has  a  printed 
pamphlet  for  the  members  of  the  church  which  is 
called  the  "Workers'  Handbook,"  containing  specific 
directions  to  members  of  all  the  different  societies  in 
the  church  and  other  church  workers  as  to  how  they 
may  best  advance  the  interests  of  their  society  or 
otherwise  help  in  church  work. 

The  following  directions  to  the  Business  Men's 
Union  is  an  example  of  the  painstaking  care  with 
which  these  duties  are  outlined :  — 


THE  BUSINESS  MEN'S  UNION. 

Each  member  can  personally  invite  each  business  man  who  joins  the 
Church  to  unite  with  the  Society. 

He  can  make  it  his  special  duty  to  welcome  to  the  Church,  to  the 
Society,  or  to  the  prayer-meetings,  each  business  man  he  can  find 
present  by  active  searching. 

He  can  look  after  travelling  business  men  at  hotels,  and  bring  them 
to  the  Temple. 

He  can  cultivate  a  fraternal  spirit  among  the  business  men  of  the 
Church. 

He  can  bring  in  new  ideas,  and  suggest  new  plans  of  Christian  work. 

He  can  discuss  business  measures  with  reference  to  fraternity  and 
religion. 

He  can  use  his  influence  to  put  honest  and  successful  business  meth- 
ods into  all  branches  of  church  work. 

He  can  push  enterprises  for  the  payment  of  church  debts,  and  for 
the  strengthening  of  the  financial,  moral,  and  religious  work. 

He  can  interest  the  Society  and  his  friends  in  hospital,  mission,  rescue, 
temperance,  evangelistic,  benevolent,  and  fraternal  efforts. 

He  can  cheerfully  work  with  the  majority  on  any  useful  plans. 

He  can  be  punctual  and  persistent  in  his  attendance  on  the  religious 
and  business  meetings  of  the  Union. 

He  can  use  his  business  experience  and  common-sense  on  public  and 
private  occasions  to  keep  the  business  of  the  Church  in  a  prosperous 
condition. 

He  can  win  sincere,  influential,  enjoyable  Christian  friends,  to  whom 
his  own  manly  Christian  character  will  be  a  continual  blessing. 


52 


PERSONAL  WORIt. 

Every  person  received  into  the  membership  of  the 
Baptist  Temple  receives  a  ' '  Workers'  Handbook  "  at 
the  time  of  his  reception.  Is  this  not  suggestive  of 
what  could  helpfully  be  done  always  when  persons  are 
received  into  the  membership  of  a  church?  It  is  a 
memorable  day  in  the  life  of  those  who  plight  their 
faith  to  that  body  which  is  the  bride  of  Christ,  and 
we  should  show  in  every  way  possible  that  we  recog- 
nize the  solemnity  and  import  of  the  step  taken.  In 
appreciation  of  this,  some  churches  give  certificates 
of  membership  (not  transferable)  at  the  time  persons 
are  received  into  the  membership  of  the  church. 

Another  help  in  securing  the  personal  interest  and 
of  gaining  a  permanent  hold  upon  the  endeavors  of 
the  members  of  the  church  in  Christian  work  is  the 
enlistment  card  system.  The  following  is  an  example 
of  such  an  enlistment  card :  — 


"LORD,   WHAT  WILT  THOU  HAVE  ME  TO  DO?" 

1  wish  to  work  in  some  definite  icay  for  Christ  and  the 

Church,  and  would  like  to  have  my  name  proposed  as  a 

worker  in  the  following. 

Check  those  you  wish  to  work  in. 

1.  Church  Prayer  Meeting. 

11.  Visiting  among  the  Sick  and 

2.  Young  People's  Society  of  Chris- 

Needy. 

tian  Endeavor. 

12.  Calling  on  Strangers. 

3.  Home  Sunday  School. 

13.  Temperance  work. 

4.  Whatsoever  Society. 

14.  District  Visitation. 

5.  Ladies'    Home    Missionary   So- 

15. Distributing    Christian   Liter- 

ciety. 

ature. 

6.  Ladies'  Foreign  Missionary  So- 

16. Cottage  Prayer  Meeting. 

ciety. 

17.  Men's  Club. 

7.  Ladies'  Helping  Hand. 

18.  Brotherhood   of   Andrew   and 

8.  Ladies'  Prayer  Meeting. 

Philip. 

9.  Young  Ladies'  Society. 

19.  Sustaining  after  Meeting, 

10.  King's  Daughters. 

20.  Work  at  the  Mission. 

Name, 

Address, 

53 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

The  Jefferson  Park  Presbyterian  Church,  Chicago, 
m.,  has  a  similar  system,  but  with  the  following  sig- 
nificant addition :  — 


IF  SICK  OR  AGED,   PLEASE   MARK   THE 
FOLLOWING. 

Praying  for  each  service  at  the  hour  when  it  is  held. 
Praying  daily  for  the  church,  its  pastor,  and  its  work. 
Praying  for  others  who  are  sick  or  aged. 
Writing  letters  to  such  when  requested  by  the  pastor. 


Remarks : 


Every  member  of  the  church  should  do  something 
personally  to  proclaim  the  gospel  of  salvation.  This 
is  further  made  possible,  even  to  the  most  timid, 
through  the  system  of  Silent  Evayigelism.  Silent 
Evangelism  is  the  use  of  a  series  of  cards,  neatly 
printed  in  colors  and  different  tints,  for  the  purpose  of 
personal  work ;  the  bringing  to  another's  mind  in  a 
delicate  and  direct  way  the  truth  of  God  and  the  ques- 
tion of  one's  relation  to  Jesus  Christ.  The  system  is 
highly  endorsed  and  commended  by  the  leading  clergy, 
bishops.  Christian  workers,  and  college  presidents 
throughout  the  country. 

Time  and  circumstances  do  not  always  give  oppor- 
tunity for  conversation  as  to  another's  spiritual  wel- 
fare ;  again  one  may  be  too  timid,  or  may  be  in  doubt 
as  to  what  is  best  to  say.  But  it  is  an  easy  thing  to 
hand  to  another  a  card  like  the  following :  — 

54 


PERSONAL  WORK. 


map  fcienb,  /  was  Just  wondering  if  you  have 
found  the  secret  of  the  blessed  life.  It 's  a  queer 
and  quiet  way  to  ask  a  question,  is  n't  it,  but  have 
you  pondered  earnestly  the  Saviour's  words, 

"J©itbout  Mt  pe  can  tio  not|)in0"? 

and  Paul's  triumphant  saying, 

"f  can  bo  aH  tbing^  tbrougb  Cftrijst,  tuljicl^ 
?trEnott)enett)  me"? 

Oh,  this  companionship  with  Jesus  !  What  joys  it 
brings!  How  it  lightens  care  and  helps  one  toil 
and  win! 

May  "the  peace  of  God,  wMch  passeth  understanding,  keep  your  heart  and 
mind  through  Christ  Jesus." 


The  card  is  given.  A  silent  prayer  goes  with  it, 
and  the  results  are  left  with  God,  who  has  promised 
that  "  his  word  shall  not  return  unto  him  void." 

The  following  instance  is  told  which  shows  the 
splendid  results  with  which  the  plan  has  been  blessed : 
' '  A  young  man  approached  a  stranger  in  the  streets 
of  Boston,  and  gave  him  a  Silent  Evangelism  card. 
The  stranger  happened  to  be  a  resident  of  Philadel- 
phia and  a  Christian.  He  took  the  card  home,  and 
gave  it  to  a  person  for  whom  it  bore  an  appropriate 
message.  As  a  direct  result,  union  and  peace  came 
to  a  broken  family,  and  eleven  persons  were  brought 
into  relation  with  the  Church  of  Christ." 

The  beautifully  printed  cards  of  Silent  Evangelism 
bear  different  messages  of  sympathy  and  personal  in- 
terest, and  so  are  adapted  to  different  people,  that  is  to 
say,  to  different  ages  and  conditions.  The  cost  is  very 
little :  the  use  of  one  card  a  day  will  make  an  average 
cost  of  but  three  and  one  half  cents  a  week,  and  the  use 

55 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

of  one  card  a  week,  a  cost  of  but  twenty-six  cents  a 
year.^ 

Another  real  service,  and  one  that  leads  to  and  en- 
courages personal  work,  is  to  place  a  number  of  tracts 
or  leaflets  in  the  hands  of  Christians,  and  urge  them  to 
enclose  a  suitable  one  in  their  various  letters.  Such  a 
message  is  often  blessed  to  great  good ;  and  as  great  a 
blessing  and  inspiration,  I  believe,  comes  to  the  sender. 

But  there  is  yet  another  way  of  working  to  the  end 
of  spiritual  conviction  in  our  churches.  It  is  the  sug- 
gestion of  the  Rev.  J.  Wilbur  Chapman,  D.D.,  Evan- 
gelist and  pastor  of  Bethany  Presbyterian  Church, 
Philadelphia,  that  the  teaching  of  the  lesson  and  usual 
exercises  of  the  Sunday-school  occasionally  give  way 
to  an  evangelistic  service.  The  general  plan  suggested 
is  about  as  follows :  A  preliminary  conference  and 
prayer-meeting  of  officers  and  teachers  on  the  Sabbath, 
for  one-half  hour  before  the  opening  of  the  School. 
The  school  is  opened  with  the  singing  of  appropriate 
and  familiar  hymns  and  with  prayers.  The  Pastor 
and  Superintendent  then  make  short  evangelistic  ad- 
dresses. After  this  the  teachers  take  their  classes  in 
general  conference,  and  heart  to  heart  talk  with  schol- 
ars as  to  their  personal  relation  to  Jesus  Christ.  The 
teacher  then  hands  the  following  card  to  the  several 
members  of  the  class  :  — 


/  have  an  honest  desire  henceforth  to  live  a  Christian  life. 
I  am  willing  to  follow  any  light  God  may  give  me. 
1  ask  the  people  of  God  to  pray  for  me. 

Name^ Residence^ 

Name  of  Teacher, 


1  Address :  The  Silent  Evangelism  Association,  30  Lafayette 
JPlace,  New  York  City. 

56 


PERSONAL  WORK. 

Wonderful  results  have  been  obtained  in  this  way. 
A  school  in  Newark,  N.  J. ,  out  of  a  membership  of 
fifteen  hundred  had  three  hundred  cards  signed,  and 
almost  the  entire  number  were  received  into  the  church- 
membership.  A  school  in  Burlington,  Iowa,  out  of  a 
membership  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  had  fifty  cards 
signed,  and  forty  were  received  into  the  church.  A 
small  school  in  New  York  City  out  of  a  membership  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty-four  received  seventeen  cards, 
another  school  of  two  hundred  and  seventy  received 
sixty  cards,  and  many  other  schools  have  obtained 
like  proportionate  results.  It  is  worth  while  to  ' '  suf- 
fer  the  little  children  to  come ! "  There  is  a  growing 
conviction  that  in  work  for  children  lies  the  hope  of  the 
Church.  By  far  the  majority  of  Christians  are  those 
who  became  such  before  reaching  the  age  of  twenty- 
one. 

A  little  girl  came  to  her  mother  with  the  query,  *'  Am 
I  old  enough  to  become  a  Christian?  '*  ''  Are  you  old 
enough  to  love  mamma?  "  was  the  reply.  "  Yes,"  said 
the  child ;  ' '  but  am  I  old  enough  to  become  a  Chris- 
tian? "  The  mother  then  asked,  "  Are  you  old  enough 
to  trust  mamma  ?  "  As  the  little  girl  gave  assent,  a 
third  question  was  asked,  "Are  you  old  enough  to 
obey  mamma  ?  "  Light  came  to  the  little  face  as  the 
fond  mother  said,  "If  you  are  old  enough  to  love, 
trust,  and  obey  mamma,  you  are  old  enough  to  love, 
trust,  and  obey  Jesus ;  and  that  is  what  it  is  to  be  a 
Christian."     Here  is  a  lesson  for  Christian  workers ! 

"  They  that  be  wise  shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of 
the  firmament;  and  they  that  turn  many  to  righteous- 
ness as  the  stars  for  ever  and  ever."  ^ 
1  Daniel  xii.  3. 


67 


MODERN  METHODS  IN    CHURCH  WORK. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

KEACHING   STRANGERS   AT   THE   SERVICES. 

At  every  church  service  of  every  church  there  are 
usually  present  a  number  of  strangers.  Some  of  them 
are  new-comers  in  the  neighborhood,  others  are  those 
who  are  "  never  at  home"  or  whose  butler  would  not 
admit  the  church  canvasser.  Many  of  these  strangers 
once  sustained  creditable  relationships  with  a  church 
in  some  other  place,  but  since  moving  they  have  ne- 
glected to  assume  any  church  responsibilities.  They 
attend  one  church  once,  and  then  in  a  few  weeks  at- 
tend another,  thus  becoming  church  tramps.  This 
class  of  people  is  not  inconsiderable.  Take  New 
York,  for  instance.  The  greater  part  of  its  English 
population  has  come  from  the  country,  where  the  major- 
ity of  them  were  a  church-going  people.  If  the  nominal 
Christians  in  that  city,  those  who  once  happily  testified 
to  their  faith  in  some  church,  would  now  assume  defi- 
nite church  connection  and  come  fully  into  the  Master's 
service,  Manhattan  Island  would  witness  a  revival  of 
religion  that  would  shake  the  continent.  What  is  true 
of  New  York  is  true  of  every  large  city,  and  in  some 
degree  is  true  of  the  smaller  city. 

Occasionally  these  sometime-Christians  drift  into 
the  church  services,  as  do  also  the  occasional  church- 
goers. Now  the  question  arises,  How  shall  we  reach 
these  strangers  ?  There  is  a  very  simple  and  satisfac- 
tory answer. 

58 


REACrimG  STRANGERS  AT  THE  SERVICES. 

The  thing  to  do  is  to  learn  who  these  people  are, 
and  where  they  live,  that  they  may  be  followed  up 
and  persuaded,  if  possible,  to  assume  Christian  respon- 
sibilities. The  church,  therefore,  seeks  to  obtain  the 
names  and  addresses  of  strangers  when  they  come  into 
the  sanctuary. 

Several  simple  methods  are  employed.  The  first 
method  may  be  called  the  "  Pastor's  Welcome."  Be- 
fore the  service  begins,  the  pastor  or  one  of  the  pastors 
(where  there  is  a  plural  pastorate)  takes  his  position 
at  the  audience  room  door  where  the  greatest  number 
of  strangers  enter,  and  at  the  place  where  they  wait 
for  ushers  to  seat  them.  For  these  few  minutes  pre- 
ceding the  service,  the  pastor  really  acts  in  the  capa- 
city of  head  usher.  No  one  is  seated  on  this  aisle  until 
he  hands  the  people  over  to  the  ushers.  Let  us  see 
how  it  works.  Several  strangers  enter :  they  come  in 
groups  of  twos  and  threes  and  fives ;  some  are  alone. 
The  time  is  brief ;  it  will  not  do  to  keep  them  waiting. 
The  pastor  is  the  first  to  speak.  "  Will  you  have 
seats?  "  he  asks.  "  The  usher  will  be  here  in  a  mo- 
ment. I  am  the  pastor ;  we  are  glad  to  welcome  you. " 
In  introducing  himself  the  minister  usually  gives  his 
name,  and  in  reply,  in  most  instances,  strangers  give 
theirs;  if  not,  he  says,  "May  I  ask  your  name?" 
Here  the  name  is  given,  and  the  pastor  writes  it  down, 
saying,  as  he  does  so,  "I  should  be  glad  to  mail  you 
one  of  our  weekly  calendars,  if  you  will  give  me  your 
address."  Or,  "I  shall  be  glad  to  send  you  notices 
sometimes  of  our  special  meetings ;  what  address  will 
reach  you  ?  "  The  people  are  found  ready  and  willing 
to  give  their  names  under  such  circumstances;  but  un- 
less some  excuse,  such  as  the  sending  of  the  church  cal- 
endar or  the  notices  of  some  meeting,  be  given  before 
their  address  is  asked,  the  questioner  is  almost  certain 

d9 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

to  give  offence.  Ministers  who  have  not  tried  this 
simple  plan  will  be  surprised  to  find  how  many  persons 
they  can  thus  welcome  in  a  very  short  time.  One  of 
the  pastors  of  the  Marble  Collegiate  Church,  New 
York,  told  me  that  he  had  obtained  as  many  as 
seventy-five  names  and  addresses  in  one  morning.  Such 
a  kindly  greeting  is  always  well  received.  Human  na- 
ture is  the  same  the  world  over.  A  sincere  welcome 
and  courteous  treatment  are  appreciated.  This  wel- 
come by  the  pastor  not  only  secures  the  stranger's 
name  and  address,  but  it  also  gives  the  latter  a  home 
feeling  iyi  that  church,  and  makes  him  receptive  of  the 
gospel  message. 

But  most  churches  have  more  than  one  entrance, 
and  sometimes  lay  members,  usually  officers  of  the 
church,  stand  at  such  entrance-ways  and  welcome 
strangers  in  the  same  manner  as  that  described  above. 
It  is  easy  for  a  man  to  introduce  himself  as  an  officer  of 
the  church.  Where  the  congregation  is  large,  it  is  im- 
portant that  such  officer  know  the  people,  that  he  may 
not  make  the  mistake  which  a  new  pastor  made  in  ask- 
ing an  elderly  man  if  he  was  a  stranger.  ''  No,  not 
exactly,"  said  the  patriarch;  *'I  have  been  a  member 
of  this  church  well-nigh  forty  years."  The  officer  who 
welcomes  strangers  should  also  be  able  to  read  them. 
Some  persons  will  not  receive  pleasantly  even  the 
asking  of  their  names,  but  all  appreciate  the  reception 
at  the  door  and  provision  for  being  seated  without 
embarrassment. 

Notwithstanding  such  earnest  efforts  to  obtain  the 
names  of  strangers  as  they  enter  the  church,  many 
addresses  cannot  be  obtained  in  this  way.  The  people 
may  have  come  in  too  rapidly,  or  some  may  have  come 
in  late.  Other  methods  must  be  employed.  In  the 
pews  or  in  the  hymn-books,  —  some  place  where  it 

60 


REACHING  STRANGERS  AT  THE  SERVICES. 

cannot  escape  the  eye,  —  pew  cards  are  placed.  Many 
pew  cards  have  been  before  me.  The  following  is 
fairly  illustrative  of  them  all :  — 


THE   CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH   OF  OSWEGO,   N.  Y. 

Cordially  invites  you  to  make  it  your  Church  home 
and  to  join  in  its  work  and  worship. 

Sign  your  name  and  address  below,  and  deposit  this  card  when 
the  plate  is  passed;  it  will  be  understood  that  you  wish  to  be 
called  upon  by  the  pastor  as  a  regular  parishioner,  and  to  be 
assigned  a  permanent  sitting. 

Seats  are  free  on  application,  the  expenses  of  the  Church  being 
met  exclusively  by  volimtary  weekly  offerings,  and  all  privileges 
of  the  Church  will  be  open  to  you  whether  your  offerings  be  large 
or  small  or  wholly  wanting.  It  is  presumed,  however,  that  all 
will  wish  to  give  something.  Kindly  indicate  by  an  X  before  the 
figure  on  the  back  of  this  card  whatever  amount  you  are  willing 
to  pledge  as  your  weekly  contribution. 


[Beverse.] 

Mark  an  X  in  front  of  the  amount  you  will  give,  and  drop  this 
card  on  the  plate.  The  treasurer  will  imderstand  that  until 
further  notification  you  will  give  this  amount  weekly,  and  will 
keep  you  informed  of  the  state  of  your  accounts. 

The  contribution  should  of  course  be  enclosed  in  an  envelope 
signed  with  your  name,  else  it  cannot  be  credited. 


.01 

.06 

.15 

.30 

.75 

.02 

.08 

.18 

.35 

1.00 

.03 

.10 

.20 

.40 

2.00 

.05 

.12 

.25 

.50 

5.00 

An  X  here  (  )  will  indicate  that  you  wish  to  see  a  copy  of  the 
chart  of  pews,  with  the  vacant  sittings  marked.  Any  unoccupied 
seat  is  at  your  disposal. 


61 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

It  appears  to  have  been  a  common  experience  that 
strangers  have  not  in  great  numbers  signed  these 
cards.  Pastors  have  acknowledged  to  me  that  they 
believe  the  failure  partly  due  to  an  attempt  to  put  too 
much  on  one  card.  In  this  work  we  ought  to  bear  in 
mind  that  we  can  lead  the  people  only  one  step  at  a 
time.  The  object  of  the  stranger's  pew  card  should  be 
one  ;  namely,  to  obtain  his  name  and  address.  If  the 
church  is  faithful,  other  things  will  follow.  Again, 
these  pew  cards,  as  shown  above,  are  too  much  in  the 
form  of  a  pledge,  in  that  they  appear  to  commit  the 
signer  to  the  expression  of  a  church  preference.  The 
result  is  that  few  strangers  sign  the  cards,  as  their 
thoughts  and  desires  for  a  church  home  have  not 
matured. 

A  card  which  is  entirely  free  from  the  objections 
given  above,  and  one  which  has  proven  very  success- 
ful, is  the  following :  — 


THE    MADISON   AVENUE   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH 

Will  be  glad  to  send  you  special  notices,  from  time 
to  time,  of  special  meetings,  if  you  will  write  your 
name  and  address  below. 

Name, Address, 


A  cordial  welcome  always  to  all. 
Seats  free. 

Please  leave  this  Card  in  tJie  Pew  or  hand  to 
one  of  the  Ushers. 


This  card  has  several  advantages.  It  is  brief.  The 
first  visit  of  a  stranger  is  not  the  time  to  acquaint 
him  with  the  whole  system  of  the  workings  of  the 
church,  or  to  say  that  possibly  it  is  his  duty  to  go  as 

62 


REACHING  STRANGERS   AT   THE   SERVICES. 

a  foreign  missionary.  This  card,  too,  does  not  com- 
mit the  signer  to  any  obligation.  On  the  other  hand, 
it  will  likely  be  to  his  pleasure  to  sign  it.  Many  feel 
that  this  is  just  what  they  want.  They  do  not  care 
to  go  to  church  all  the  time,  but  if  there  is  anything 
special  going  on,  they  are  glad  to  go.  So  the  card  is 
signed,  —  its  purpose  is  accomplished :  the  name  and 
address  is  obtained. 

The  ensuing  week  the  pastor  writes  a  letter  some- 
what as  follows :  — 

My  dear  Mr.  Smith, — We  were  glad  to  receive  the 
card  signed  by  you  last  Sunday  in  our  church.  It  will  give 
us  pleasure  to  send  you  notices  of  our  special  meetings, 
and  we  believe  that  you  will  find  them  interesting  and 
enjoyable. 

We  cordially  welcome  you  to  any  and  all  of  our  meetings ; 
and  we  shall  be  pleased  to  meet  you  personally,  and  hope 
to  have  the  privilege  of  calling  on  you  soon. 

Trusting  that  you  will  always  feel  at  home  with  us  when 
able  to  attend  our  services, 

Believe  me,  sincerely, 


A  call  is  made  as  soon  as  possible.  This  is  fol- 
lowed, from  time  to  time,  by  notices  of  special  relig- 
ious and  social  meetings.  Invitations  to  church 
socials,  to  the  ladies'  receptions,  the  young  men's 
club,  or  men's  league,  the  debating  society,  or  young 
people's  society,  as  the  case  may  be,  are  sent. 

When  a  person  comes,  he  is  cordially  received,  and 
is  shown  every  attention.  His  heart  is  won  by  that 
people  and  church,  and  it  will  be  strange,  indeed,  if 
it  is  not  soon  won  to  Jesus  Christ. 

Some  churches  instead  of  using  cards  in  the  pews 
have  the  ushers  hand  them  to  strangers,  as  the  fol- 
lowing card  illustrates :  — 

63 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 


You  are  cordially  welcomed. 

It  would  afford  me  pleasure  to  meet  you  at  the 
close  of  the  service^  and  introduce  you  to  our  pastor 
and  other  members. 

Usher. 


[Reverse.] 

Please  fill  the  lines  below  and  drop  this  card  in 
the  collection  basket^  if  you  desire  the  pastor  to  call 
on  you. 

Name, 

Address. 


There  is  a  personal  touch  about  the  signature  of 
the  usher  that  commends  this  card  to  the  stranger  and 
gives  the  feeling  of  an  individual  welcome  to  the 
church. 

There  will  be  other  strangers  in  the  church,  doubt- 
less, whose  names  are  not  obtained  as  they  enter,  and 
who  will  not  place  their  addresses  on  any  kind  of  a 
card.  The  method  used  to  reach  such  persons  is  also 
one  which  pleasantly  emphasizes  the  welcome  and 
hospitality  to  all.  This  method  is  called  the  "Pastor's 
Pulpit  Reception."  At  the  conclusion  of  the  church 
notices,  or  before  the  offertory,  where  notices  are  not 
read,  the  pastor  says:  "It  is  a  pleasure  to  meet  stran- 
gers worshipping  with  us.  I  shall  be  in  front  of  the 
pulpit  for  this  purpose  immediately  after  the  service, 
and  will  appreciate  meeting  those  of  you  who  will 
honor  me  by  coming  forward."  The  invitation  is 
given  in  different  forms.  The  form  matters  little 
when  coming  from  the  heart.  To  such  invitations 
the  people  respond;  and  there  are  churches  which 
have  obtained  large  numbers  of  names  and  addresses 
in  this  way. 

64 


REACHING  STRANGERS   AT  THE  SERVICES. 

Some  pastors,  instead  of  having  the  pulpit  recep- 
tion, go  to  the  rear  of  the  room  at  the  close  of  the 
services,  and  meet  the  people  as  they  come  out. 
Announcement  of  the  pastor's  presence  at  the  door  is 
given  from  the  pulpit.  Such  ministers  are  careful  to 
explain,  as  they  extend  the  invitation  to  strangers  to 
meet  them,  that  the  meeting  and  the  giving  of  their 
names  entails  no  obligation,  but  simply  means  mutual 
acquaintance.  The  value  of  such  explanation  from 
the  pulpit  is  twofold :  it  prepares  the  way  for  an  easy 
approach  to  the  stranger,  and  emphasizes  the  hospi- 
tality of  the  church.  It  also  is  a  delicate  suggestion 
to  the  church-members  that  the  pastor  is  at  the  door 
at  the  conclusion  of  the  service  especially  to  express 
their  welcome  to  the  new-comers.  In  the  Central 
Congregational  Church  of  Jamaica  Plain,  Boston,  the 
following  notice  appears  in  the  calendar  for  the  even- 
ing service,  which  is  conducted  by  the  Young  Men's 
Club:  — 

Note.  —  During  the  Gloria  Patri,  the  Pastor  and  Invita- 
tion Committee  will  pass  to  the  vestibule,  where  they  will 
be  glad  to  greet  as  many  as  possible. 

The  Gloria  Patri  is  sung  immediately  after  the 
benediction,  and  is  followed  by  the  usual  postlude. 

But  it  is  impossible  for  the  pastor  to  meet  all  the 
strangers  at  the  door,  and  with  the  pulpit  reception 
it  is  found  that  some  people  are  too  timid  or  have  no 
special  desire  to  come  forward  to  meet  the  ministers. 
Therefore  still  other  means  may  be  employed  for 
obtaining  the  names  and  addresses  of  strangers  pres- 
ent. Some  ministers  have  the  church  mapped  out  in 
sections,  a  certain  number  of  sittings  being  appor- 
tioned to  individuals  whose  business  it  is  to  look  out 
for  strangers  and  to  invite  them  forward  to  meet  the 
5  65 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

pastor.     This  work  is  usually  in  charge  of  some  one 
of  the  church  societies. 

Whatever  society  it  is  under,  each  individual  in 
charge  of  a  section  sends  in  a  written  report  every 
week  of  the  previous  Sabbath's  work.  The  following 
is  a  copy  of  a  blank  used  for  that  purpose :  — 


REPORT    ON    WELCOMING    STRANGERS. 

Church. 

Number  of  strangers  in  my  section, 

Of  these icere  men,  were  women. 

Number  to  lohom  greeting  was  given, , 

Names  and  Addresses, 


Date, A.M.  or  p.m. 

Signed, — 


A  written  report  should  always  be  required.  It  im- 
mediately places  within  the  pastor's  hand  any  new 
names  that  may  have  been  received,  and  it  keeps  the 
committee  "up  to  time  "  in  their  work  of  welcoming 
strangers.  Other  churches  also  have  a  Vestibule 
Committee,  which  works  to  the  same  end  of  meeting 
strangers. 

For  some  of  the  Sabbath  services  at  Grace  Church, 
New  York,  there  is  always  a  committee  of  young  men 
upon  the  sidewalk,  in  waiting  to  give  passers-by  an 
invitation  into  the  services.  This  is  done  by  printed 
card  of  invitation  (which  is  important)  and  personal 
word. 

In  addition  to  these  definite  plans  for  welcoming 
and  reaching  strangers  at  the  church  services,  every 

66 


REACHING  STRANGERS  AT  THE  SERVICES. 

member  of  the  church  should  be  made  to  feel  that  to 
look  out  for  strangers,  which  is  looking  out  for  souls, 
is  a  part  of  true  worship. 

Many  persons  hesitate  to  speak  to  others  of  their 
soul's  welfare,  but  surely  the  most  timid  can  say  to 
the  stranger,  "I  hope  you  are  going  to  accept  the 
pastor's  invitation  to  meet  him,  —  will  you  not  let 
me  introduce  you  to  him  ?  "  When  there  is  an  ear- 
nest longing  for  souls,  and  the  people  are  filled  with 
the  Holy  Spirit,  how  can  they  refrain  from  extending 
a  welcome,  and  giving  a  stranger  to  feel  that  he  is  in 
his  Father's  house  and  with  the  Israel  of  his  God! 
This  is  the  spirit  which  ought  to  prevail  throughout 
the  Church.  When  it  does,  we  may  expect  Pente- 
costal blessings. 


67 


MODERN  METHODS  IN   CHURCH  WORK. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

ushers'  association. 

The  ushers  at  one  end  of  the  room  are  as  important 
as  the  minister  at  the  other  end  of  the  church.  The 
first  impression  which  strangers  receive  on  coming 
into  a  church  is  usually  from  the  ushers.  The  cour- 
teous welcome  and  ready  attention  and  the  prompt 
seating  of  visitors,  as  well  as  the  regular  attendants, 
when  necessary,  is  no  small  factor  in  the  success  of 
winning  the  people. 

Upon  entering  the  better  and  larger  retail  stores  in 
our  cities,  and  even  in  the  smaller  villages,  the  door 
is  not  only  opened  for  us,  but  some  one  stands  ready 
to  check  our  umbrella,  to  take  our  coat,  and  some  one 
else  is  prompt  in  attention  to  direct  us  to  any  part  of 
the  building.  Is  it  true  that  even  here  the  children 
of  this  world  are  wiser  than  the  children  of  light? 

If  there  is  any  body  of  men  who  need  to  be  prayed 
for,  who  ought  to  pray  for  themselves,  that  they  may 
at  once  realize  the  importance,  delicacy,  and  dignity 
of  their  office,  it  is  the  ushers  of  a  church. 

I  am  led  to  believe  that  the  ushering  is  most  suc- 
cessfully done  in  those  churches  which  have  an 
Ushers'  Association,  —  where  members  are  stimu- 
lated by  coming  together  in  an  organized  society. 
It  is  then  that  there  is  developed  an  espiit  de 
corps,  that  they  are  inspired  with  the  importance  of 
their  work,  and  fall  to  their  places  with  military 
precision. 

68 


USHERS'   ASSOCIATION 

Grace  Temple,  Philadelphia,  has  an  Ushers'  Asso- 
ciation. I  take  the  following  significant  paragraphs 
from  the  resolutions  which  govern  this  Society :  — 

Resolution  4.  Resolved:  That  every  usher  being  absent 
from  duty  shall  pay  the  Secretary  the  sum  of  twenty-five 
cents,  and  for  being  late,  the  sum  of  ten  cents.  These  fines 
may  be  remitted  for  sickness,  or  when  said  delinquent  shall 
have  given  the  Head  Usher  two  days'  notice. 

Resolution  6.  Resolved :  That  when  any  usher  shall  be 
absent  from  his  post  of  duty  four  Sundays  in  succession 
without  cause,  the  position  shall  be  declared  vacant,  and 
filled  by  the  Head  Usher. 

The  ushers  of  Grace  Temple  are  also  charged 
twenty-five  cents  each  month  to  pay  for  such  expenses 
as  may  arise  from  time  to  time.  Those  who  know  of 
Grace  Temple  know  that  it  has  one  of  the  most  efficient 
bodies  of  ushers  of  any  church  in  this  country.  The 
business-like  way  in  which  they  take  hold  of  things 
is  positively  refreshing.  What  pastor  has  not  been 
exasperated  by  sleepy  officers,  nominally  in  charge  of 
this  important  work,  stumbling  into  their  pews,  the 
latest  attendants  in  the  congregation! 

The  Ushers'  Association  of  the  Hollond  Memorial 
Church,  Philadelphia,  is  also  deserving  of  mention. 
This  Society  has  published  in  neat  attractive  form  its 
Constitution  and  by-laws,  together  with  the  names  of 
officers  and  members  of  the  Association.  The  sug- 
gestions to  ushers  contained  in  this  little  book  are  so 
capital  that  a  copy  of  them  should  be  in  the  hands  of 
every  usher  in  the  country  whether  he  belong  to  an 
Ushers'  Association  or  not:  — 

1.  Be  at  your  post  thirty  minutes  before  time  for  service. 

2.  Be  careful  to  reserve  seats  when  requested  to  do  so. 

3.  Fill  your  front  seats  Jirst. 

4.  Know  how  many  each  pew  wiU  seat,  and  see  that  it  is 
filled  when  the  house  is  crowded. 

69 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

5.  Make  an  effort  to  seat  friends  together. 

6.  Give  strangers  the  best  seats,  and  see  that  they  have 
a  hymn-book  or  programme.     (Read  Hebrews  xiii.  2.) 

7.  The  head  usher  should  make  it  his  business  to  direct 
tlie  ushering.  He  should  see  that  the  house  is  evenly  seated, 
axid  that  collectors  do  their  work  properly. 

8.  Never  seat  any  one  claiming  prayer  or  the  rendering  oj 
special  music. 

9.  Be  prompt  in  starting  the  collection,  but  go  slow  when 
taking  it,  and  be  careful  that  you  slight  no  one. 

10.  Keep  the  air  good.  If  it  becomes  close,  open  windows 
during  the  singing. 

11.  Be  quiet  in  all  your  icork. 

12.  Do  not  permit  groups  to  assemble  in  the  back  part  of 
the  church  and  talk  before  and  dui'ing  service. 

Once  a  year  this  Society  gives  a  supper  and  enter- 
tainment to  the  men  of  the  church.  The  work  of  the 
Association  is  then  briefly  reviewed,  other  short  ad- 
dresses are  made,  and  a  general  good  time  is  realized. 
In  speaking  of  this  Association,  Rev.  J.  R.  Miller, 
D.D.,  one  of  the  pastors  of  the  Hollond  Church,  says: 
"It  has  worked  admirably.  It  is  a  good  thing  for 
the  young  men  themselves,  and  we  have  no  more 
pleasant  and  happy  Association  about  the  church.  It 
has  trained  them  to  thoughtfulness  and  helpfulness  in 
many  ways.  They  have  learned  to  greet  people  cor- 
dially and  take  an  interest  in  strangers,  the  old  peo- 
ple, and  poor  people.  Besides,  it  has  been  of  great 
advantage  to  the  church,  assuring  system  and  order 
in  the  seating  of  people,  taking  up  collections,  etc." 

There  are  but  few  of  these  Ushers'  Associations  in 
the  country  at  present;  but  a  movement  so  happily 
conceived  is  sure  to  grow,  and  in  time  to  come  it 
will  be  a  source  of  wonder  to  us  that  for  so  long  we 
failed  to  appreciate  the  magnitude  of  the  office  of  the 
"door-keeper  in  the  house  of  our  God." 

70 


THE  CHOIK. 


CHAPTER  VIIL 

THE   CHOIR. 

The  power  of  music  over  the  human  heart  is  something  before 
which  we  pause  in  mute  admiration,  —  so  clearly  does  it  show  God's 
wondrous  plan  in  keeping  for  himself  one  tender  spot  in  the  soul  on 
which  his  voice  may  fall  without  rejection. 

Mrs.  Laura  C.  Dunlap. 

There  are  various  things  to  be  said  in  favor  of  dif- 
ferent kinds  of  music:  chorus,  quartette,  vested  choir, 
or  congregational  singing.  One  would  have  the 
music  of  the  great  congregation  led  simply  by  a  pre- 
centor; another,  the  quartette  to  lead  the  congregation 
and  render  selections,  as  duets,  trios,  and  quartettes ; 
but  let  not  any  one  think  that  a  change  of  personnel 
without  a  change  of  spirit  will  give  new  life  to  the 
music  of  the  church.  Rev.  Dr.  Rainsford  well  states 
this  truth  when  he  says:  "A  man  writes  that  his 
church  has  failed  as  a  pew  church  and  with  a  quar- 
tette choir;  do  I  think  it  will  succeed  as  a  free 
church  and  with  a  boy  choir?  .  .  .  One  man  can  put 
life-blood  into  one  set  of  methods,  and  another  into 
another,  but  what  we  want  is  blood."  ^ 

There  are  various  plans  for  conducting  church 
music. 

Between  the  extremes  of  poor  congregational  sing- 
ing and  the  professional  or  paid  quartette  only,  lies 
the   middle   ground,  which  is  outlined   by  the   Rev. 

^  Christianity  Practically  Applied,  p.  179. 
71 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHUKCH  WORK. 

Charles  A.  Dickinson,  D.D.,  pastor  of  Berkeley  Tem- 
ple, Boston,  in  the  introduction  to  his  admirable 
book,  "The  Temple  Service."  He  says:  "In  order 
to  draw  upon  all  the  treasures  of  sacred  music,  and 
to  make  the  service  of  song  in  the  house  of  God  most 
effective,  three  things  are  necessary,  —  a  quartette 
which  is  not  only  competent,  but  disposed  to  sing  the 
simplest  hymn  as  well  as  the  most  elaborate  anthem, 
a  well-trained  chorus,  and  a  singing  congregation. 
With  this  combination  it  is  possible  to  meet  the 
varied  tastes  of  the  people  and  to  secure  the  most 
delicate  as  well  as  the  grandest  effects  in  church 
service." 

Grace  Baptist  Temple  of  Philadelphia  has  the  lar- 
gest permanent  choir  in  the  United  States,  numbering 
two  hundred  and  eighty  singers.  They  are  trained  to 
sing  without  the  baton.  Attendance  at  church  and 
at  rehearsals  is  maintained  by  the  advantages  of  the 
musical  drill,  secured  by  membership  in  the  choir, 
and  by  a  fine  of  twenty-five  cents  for  absence,  while 
absence  from  a  concert  subjects  the  delinquent  to  a 
fine  of  one  dollar.  There  are  also  associate  members 
who  pay  five  dollars  annually,  and  are  entitled  to 
three  tickets  for  each  of  the  concerts  of  the  season. 
The  money  that  is  collected  is  used  in  paying  for 
music  and  other  expenses.  The  choir  is  assisted  by 
piano,  organ,  and  an  orchestra  composed  mainly  of 
young  people  from  the  Sunday-school.  This  church 
has  excellent  facilities  for  training  musicians,  as 
there  is  a  department  of  music  in  connection  with 
Temple  College,  which  is  under  the  direction  of  the 
church.  In  the  Temple  chorus  there  are  several  minor 
musical  organizations,  such  as  quartettes  of  men  and 
women  whose  services  are  in  demand  in  the  city.  All 
the  money  these  singers  make  they  devote  to   some 

72 


THE  CHOIR. 

branch  of  the  Temple  work.  One  year  they  contrib- 
uted 11,200. 

In  the  Clarendon  Street  Church,  Boston,  of  which 
the  late  Rev.  A.  J.  Gordon,  D.D.,  was  pastor,  there 
is  a  large  volunteer  choir,  which  consists  entirely  of 
church-members.  Nothing  is  paid  for  music  except 
to  the  organist.  This  choir  believes  that  "it  is  more 
blessed  to  give  than  to  receive,"  and  at  one  time  gave 
$400  to  a  missionary  in  Mexico. 

The  First  Congregational  Church,  Jersey  City,  has 
tried  the  experiment  of  dispensing  with  its  paid  quar- 
tette, and  devoting  the  money  to  paying  a  chorus. 
Special  singers  are  engaged  for  occasional  services, 
but  the  talent  of  the  chorus  is  equal  to  nearly  every 
demand.  This  plan  is  working  well,  and  is  resulting 
in  binding  a  large  number  of  families  to  the  church 
in  a  very  special  way. 

The  Madison  Avenue  Presbyterian  Church,  New 
York,  has  a  large  chorus  choir  which  is  doing  excel- 
lent work.  The  director  of  the  choir,  who  is  also  the 
organist,  is  a  salaried  man.  The  nominal  salary  of 
about  f  100  each  is  paid  the  quartette.  This  latter  ex- 
pense, and  the  cost  of  the  music,  are  met  by  a  winter 
concert  given  by  the  choir.  No  salary  is  paid  to 
members  of  the  chorus,  but  they  are  amply  compen- 
sated by  private  singing-lessons  given  them  by  the 
director,  for  which  they  agree  to  sing  regularly  in  the 
choir.  The  arrangement  is  as  strictly  a  business  one 
as  that  which  engages  the  director  of  the  music. 
This  plan  has  also  met  with  gratifying  success  in 
other  churches. 

A  somewhat  different  choir  is  that  of  St.  George's 
Church,  New  York.  This  is  a  choir  of  ninetv  voices. 
It  includes  men,  women,  and  boys.  The  boys  are 
trained  for  this  work  by  singing  in  a  surpliced  choir 

73 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

in  the  Sunday-school.  The  Sunday-school  choir  serve 
as  choristers  at  the  Sunday  evening  and  Wednesday 
niglit  services,  and  are  promoted  to  the  regular  choir 
on  showing  proficiency. 

Quite  different  is  the  method  in  Grace  Episcopal 
Church,  in  the  same  city.  This  choir  consists  of 
men  and  boys.  There  is  a  day  school  held  in  the 
church  building  for  the  choir  boys.  They  are  thus 
available  at  all  times  for  special  services,  weddings, 
and  funerals.  The  boys  receive  private  music  les- 
sons during  the  intervals  of  their  classes.  The  school 
is  an  excellent  one,  having  two  women  instructors 
and  military  drill,  and  boys  are  counted  fortunate 
who  are  enrolled  on  its  lists. 

In  the  Congregational  Church  of  Sparta,  Wis., 
they  are  engaged  in  what  may  be  called  choir-build- 
ing. The  Men's  Club  of  the  church  has  engaged  a 
salaried  music-teacher  to  instruct  the  young  people  in 
music,  giving  them  twenty  lessons  in  twenty  weeks. 
These  young  people,  twenty  to  forty  in  number,  come 
into  the  evening  choir  as  needed,  in  a  body,  or  in 
fewer  numbers.  The  pastor.  Rev.  William  Crawford, 
says,  "This  is  providing  good  church  music  for  the 
future  as  well  as  for  the  present." 

Whatever  the  nature  of  the  choir,  one  thing  is  need- 
ful: let  those  who  lead  our  worshipping  congrega- 
tions in  song  be  those  who  can  sing  with  spirit  and 
with  a  conscious  appreciation  of  their  sacred  posi- 
tion! True,  we  want  good  music,  the  best  possible; 
none  can  be  too  good  for  such  great  and  sacred 
themes,  nor  too  good  for  the  humblest  people.  If  the 
congregation  is  largely  made  up  of  those  who  are  not 
able  to  cultivate  or  gratify  their  desire  for  artistic 
song,  so  much  more  the  reason  for  the  best  that  art 
can  give  at  our  church  services.     But  singing  which 

74 


THE  CHOIR. 

is  purely  artistic  will  not  do.  We  have  no  more  right 
"to  put  an  unconsecrated  singer  into  the  choir  than 
we  have  to  put  an  unconsecrated  preacher  iuto  the 
pulpit. "  ^  Let  us  be  careful  how  we  touch  the  ark  of 
God! 

Dangers  beset  that  church  in  which  the  aesthetic 
taste  is  paramount.  It  is  not  a  question  of  money. 
The  Church  cannot  afford  to  be  sparing  of  her  funds 
if  she  will  attain  the  desired  result.  But  here  lies 
the  danger,  that  by  engaging  musicians  of  ability  the 
demand  may  be  created  in  the  congregation  for  a 
finished  musical  skill,  which  may  not  at  all  times  be 
obtainable  combined  with  the  spiritual  requisites, 
which  far  outweigh  the  merely  artistic  ones.  A  sen- 
timent should  be  developed  in  the  choir  and  the  con- 
gregation that  the  singers  are  the  ministers  of  God, 
no  less  than  he  who  addresses  the  people  from  the 
pulpit;  and  to  this  end  let  the  preacher  pray  for  the 
choir  frequently,  and  in  public,  as  he  has  prayed  for 
all  those  who  share  the  services  with  him.  Would  we 
breathe  a  consecration  prayer,  let  us  include  that  beau- 
tiful verse-petition  of  Frances  Ridley  Havergal :  — 

"  Take  my  voice,  and  let  me  siug 
Always,  only,  for  my  King. 

Take  my  lips,  and  let  them  be 
Filled  with  messages  from  Thee." 

1  Rev.  Dr.  A.  P.  Pierson,  Report  of  Second  Convention  of 
Christian  Workers,  New  York,  1887,  p.  60. 


73 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH   WORK. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  men's  SUNDAY  EVENING  CLUB. 

**  The  joy  of  life  for  strong  natures  lies  in  a  noble  activity  :  a  work 
adequate  to  the  aspirations  of  the  soul ;  a  work  that  brings  calm  by  its 
magnitude,  and  by  its  very  demands  evokes  the  best  and  greatest 
in  us." 

Not  until  recently  has  the  executive  and  business  abil- 
ity represented  by  the  men  of  the  Church  been  turned 
to  large  account.  Outside  of  the  few  officers  and 
prayer-meeting  pillars  men  have  done  little  or  nothing 
in  church  work.  Here  for  the  most  part  has  been  a 
Niagara  of  unused  power. 

The  problem  of  how  to  use  and  interest  the  men  in 
the  Church,  and  how  to  reach  men  outside  of  the  Church, 
is  one  of  the  greatest  that  ever  faced  a  pastor.  The 
minister  who  first  started  a  men's  Sunday  Evening 
Club  is  deserving  the  gratitude  of  his  fellow-laborers 
in  the  field  of  church  work,  for  he  cut  the  Gordian 
knot.  One  of  the  greatest  movements  of  modern 
times,  a  movement  that  must  stand  prominent  in  the 
history  of  the  Church,  is  that  of  the  Sunday  Evening 
Club.  The  work  of  these  clubs  has  already  passed  the 
experimental  stage,  and  is  one  of  the  recognized  forces 
in  evangelistic  work.  The  great  object  of  the  organi- 
zation is  to  increase  in  every  appropriate  and  legiti- 
mate way  the  attractiveness  and  effectiveness  of  the 
Sunday  evening  service,  and  to  interest  the  non- 
church-goiug    men   in   church   work,    that    they   may 

76 


THE  MEN'S  SUNDAY  EVENING  CLUB. 

become  useful  members  of  the  Church  and  faithful 
followers  of  Jesus  Christ.  The  organization  and  the 
plan  of  the  Men's  Club  are  best  indicated  by  the  fol- 
lowing constitution,  which  is  practically  that  of  all  the 
clubs  doing  this  work.  The  constitution,  and  nine  of 
the  committees  indicated,  are  taken  from  the  Club  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Austin,  111.  The  first, 
second,  ninth,  tenth,  and  eleventh  committees  are 
copied  from  the  Club  of  the  First  Congregational 
Church,  Applet  on.  Wis. 

Article  I.  Name.  —  The  name  of  this  Association  shall 
be  "  The  Men's  Club  of  the Church." 

Article  II.  Object.  —  The  object  of  this  Club  shall 
be  to  interest  in  the  .  .  .  Church  the  men  of  the  community 
who  are  not  connected  with  any  other  congregation,  es- 
pecially by  increasing  the  attractiveness  of  the  evening 
services. 

Article  III.  Officers.  — The  officers  of  this  Club  shall 
be  a  President,  Vice-President,  Secretary,  and  Treasurer,  who 
shall  be  elected  by  ballot,  by  a  majority,  and  hold  their  office 
for  .  .  .  months,  or  until  their  successors  are  elected. 

Article  IV.  Membership.  —  Men  who  are  interested 
in  the  purpose  of  the  Club,  and  willing  to  co-operate  in 
carrying  out  its  plans,  are  eligible  to  membership,  and 
shall  become  members  when  accepted  by  the  Membership 
Committee.  It  is  understood  that  all  who  join  the  Club 
will,  when  called  upon,  serve  on  committees. 

Article  V.  Committees.  —  The  Officers,  together  with 
the  Pastor,  shall  appoint  the  following  Committees,  who 
shall  serve  for  three  months,  namely,  — 

A  Committee  on  Worship,  who,  with  the  Pastor,  shaU 
furnish  the  general  plan  for  each  evening  service  by  way 
of  sermon,  responsive  service,  and  hymns. 

Second :  A  Committee  on  Music,  who,  with  the  Organist, 
shall  see  that  the  evening  service  is  provided  with  appro- 
priate vocal  and  instrumental  music. 

Third:  A  Committee  on  Printing  and  Advertising,  tha 
77 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCPI   WORK. 

duty  of  -which  shall  be  to  see  that  the  church  and  its  work 
is  sufficiently  advertised. 

Fourth :  A  Committee  on  Ushers,  which  shall  see  that  the 
church  services  are  provided  with  these  oifiicers. 

Fifth:  A  Committee  on  Invitation,  the  duty  of  which 
shall  be  to  invite  strangers  and  non-attendants  of  any 
church,  and  which  shall  act  also  as  a  hand-shaking  or 
general  welcome  committee. 

Sixth :  A  Social  and  Entertainment  Committee,  the  busi- 
ness of  which  shall  be  to  plan  for  the  social  interests  of  the 
Club,  and  provide  such  entertainments,  of  a  popular  char- 
acter, as  may  best  advance  the  object  of  the  Club. 

Seventh :  A  Finance  Committee,  of  which  the  Treasurer 
shall  be  chairman,  the  duty  of  which  shall  be  to  provide  the 
funds  necessary  for  carrying  on  the  work. 

Eighth  :  A  Committee  on  Membership,  the  duty  of  which 
shall  be  to  secure  and  admit  new  members. 

Ninth :  A  Committee  on  Decoration,  who  shall  assist  in 
the  decoration  of  the  church  whenever  such  decoration  may 
be  desired. 

Tenth :  A  Coat  and  Hat  Committee,  who  shall  take 
charge  of  those  articles  in  the  vestibule. 

Eleventh :  A  Committee  of  Choristers,  who  shall  take 
their  places  in  the  choir  and  assist  in  leading  the  congre- 
gation in  singing. 

Twelfth :  A  Census  Committee,  the  duty  of  which  shall 
be  to  canvass  the  neighborhood  and  ascertain  the  names  of 
those  who  do  not  attend  any  place  of  worship  regularly. 

Thirteenth :  An  Executive  Committee,  which  shall  con- 
sist of  the  Pastor,  the  Officers  of  the  Club,  and  the  Chair- 
man of  the  Committees,  the  duty  of  which  shall  be  to  look 
after  the  general  interests  of  the  Club. 

Article  VI.  Amendments.  —  This  constitution  shall 
be  amended  by  a  two-thirds  vote  of  those  present  at  any 
regular  meeting. 

Article  VII.  Meetings.  — A  Business  and  Social  Meet- 
ing, with  banquet,  shall  be  held  on  the  first  Friday  evening 
of  each  month  at  eight  p.  m.,  in  the  Church  parlors.  Special 
meetings  may  be  called  by  the  President  when  necessary. 

78 


THE  MEN'S  SUNDAY  EVENING  CLUB. 

It  is  at  ODce  apparent  that  this  association  of  men  has 
elements  of  real  strength.  In  the  first  place  it  stands 
for  a  definite  object,  one  that  is  worth  the  while :  in- 
teresting the  non-church-going  men  of  the  community 
and  increasing  the  attractiveness  of  the  Sunday  ser- 
vices, especially  the  evening  service.  Men  m  the 
Church,  as  in  business,  must  have  something  large 
enough  to  take  hold  of,  something  that  will  interest 
and  occupy  them.  Give  them  a  work  worth  doing, 
and  a  regular  time  in  which  to  do  it,  and  almost  all 
men  will  respond  and  do  their  best. 

Another  vital  element  in  the  association  is  the 
equalization  of  labor  and  responsibility  with  the  indi- 
vidual members.  New  officers  are  elected  and  com- 
mittees appointed  every  three  months,  thus  making 
provision  for  the  distribution  of  places  of  responsibil- 
ity. Every  member  of  the  club  is,  at  some  time  of  the 
year,  given  with  others  the  responsibility  for  advertis- 
ing and  caring  for  some  one  Sunday  evening  service, 
and  at  all  times  is  made  to  feel  that  he  is  responsible 
for  his  share  in  the  work,  and  that  he  should  do  his 
best  to  make  some  non-church-goer  realize  that  a  warm 
welcome  awaits  him  at  any  of  the  church  services  when- 
ever he  cares  to  claim  it. 

Another  factor  which  plays  an  important  part  in  the 
work  is  the  nature  of  the  organization.  The  feeling  of 
fraternity  is  divinely  implanted  in  men.  "What  could 
more  completely  fill  the  want  than  a  men's  club? 
Here  is  something  which  belongs  to  them.  It  was 
made  for  them,  and  one  element  in  its  success  is  that 
men  naturally  take  to  the  idea  of  a  club.  They  want 
to  be  associated  in  a  definite  and  distinct  organization. 
They  like  the  regulation  of  the  idea,  and  the  discipline 
appeals  to  them.  If  some  church-members  object  to 
the  term  "  club  "  as  having  a  tone  of  "  worldly  uugodli 

79 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

ness,"  it  will  be  weU  to  point  out  that  its  real  meaning 
"is  an  organization  in  which  each  one  bears  his  full 
share  of  the  work  or  burden  of  expenses."  ^  Several 
churches  use  the  term  ''Men's  League,"  but  out  of  the 
two  hundred  or  more  clubs  with  which  I  have  corre- 
sponded, only  four  have  taken  that  name.  The  clubs 
place  emphasis  on  the  social  life,  and  aim  to  produce 
a  kindly  acquaintance  and  goodly  fellowship,  not  only 
among  the  members  of  the  society,  but  also  between 
the  men  of  the  church  and  the  community.  Provision 
is  made  for  monthly  or  quarterly  socials.  Supper  is 
served,  and  music,  speeches,  recitations,  and  other 
pleasant  features  are  i)rovided,  as  in  the  judgment  of 
the  Social  Committee  may  seem  best.  Each  member  is 
usually  permitted  to  invite  one  or  two  of  his  men 
friends.  Most  clubs  have  anniversary  banquets,  for 
which  unusual  provision  is  made,  and  members  invite 
their  families  and  friends.  Still  other  clubs  have  these 
social  gatherings  when  they  have  invited  guests  some 
two  or  three  times  a  year.  This  social  feature  is  de- 
serving the  stress  placed  upon  it;  it  is  important. 
Not  only  does  it  foster  and  develop  an  espi^it  de 
corps,  but  it  meets  one  of  man's  deepest  needs.  He 
was  ordained  to  be  a  social  creature,  and  the  Christian 
worker  who  will  not  recognize  this  either  does  not 
understand  or  else  defies  the  nature  of  man  and  the 
laws  of  God. 

But  the  work  of  the  club  centres  largely  upon  the 
Sunday  evening  service ;  thus  the  social  and  club  feat- 
ures are  a  means  to  the  great  end  of  bringing  men 
within  hearing  of  the  Gospel.  The  nature  of  the  Sun- 
day evening  service  is  determined  by  the  Devotional 
Committee,  together  with  the   pastor.      The   evening 

1  "The  Fishiu'  Jimmy  Club,"  by  Rev.  John  Clark  Hill, 
D-D.,  p.  15. 

80 


THE  MEN'S  SUNDAY  EVENING  CLUB. 

meeting  is  a  devotional  service,  with  such  pleasurable 
and  helpful  features  as  recover  it  from  the  unimpor- 
tant service  and  render  it  a  drawing  power  instead  of 
a  drag.  The  pastor  presides,  and  usually  gives  a  short, 
stirring  address,  —  the  very  best  he  can  put  into  twelve 
or  fifteen  minutes  of  time.  The  programme  is  bright, 
spirited,  and  varied  with  a  considerable  part  for  the 
people  to  share  in  by  way  of  responsive  readings, 
creed,  prayers  in  unison,  and  singing.  Not  only  is 
variety  sought  in  each  programme,  but  in  the  different 
programmes  from  week  to  week.  The  clubs  have 
printed  programmes  giving  the  order  of  service  and 
bearing  the  names  of  the  officers  and  chairmen  of  the 
committees  of  the  club ;  some  clubs  print  the  names  of 
all  the  members  as  well  as  the  chairmen  of  the  commit- 
tees, thus  magnifying  the  importance  of  the  individual 
member.  The  order  of  the  morning  service  of  worship 
is  frequently  indicated  in  the  same  bulletin,  thus  mak- 
ing the  programme  serve  for  both  services.  The 
make-up  of  the  programme  is  frequently  changed  for 
the  sake  of  variety.  Sometimes  the  programme  has 
only  one  page,  but  usually  it  has  four  pages,  including 
notes  relative  to  church  and  club  news,  and  notes 
briefly  stating  the  object  of  the  club,  its  method  of 
work  by  committees,  the  nature  of  membership,  and 
other  helpful  inforaiation.  The  club  also  has  charge 
of  the  advertising  of  the  evening  service.^ 

In  starting  a  club  the  pastor  must  be  willing  to 
undertake  it  with  small  beginnings.  Possibly  only  a 
few  will  be  attracted  at  first  by  the  idea.  It  may  be 
possible  that  the  board  of  ruling  officers  of  the  church 
will  not  take  kindly  to  the  new  plan.  There  are  al- 
ways those  who  decry  anything  new,  and  stand  in 
jealous  fear  lest  some  little  place  of  prominence  be 

1  For  methods  in  advertising  see  Chapter  XL 
6  81 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHUKCH  WORK. 

usurped.  It  will  be  helpful  in  the  organization  to  tell 
what  work  has  been  accomplished  by  clubs  elsewhere, 
discuss  the  needs  of  the  community,  and  emphasize  the 
importance  of  men  working  for  men;  and  having 
presented  the  matter  from  the  pulpit  and  worked 
personally,  then  announce  the  evening  for  the  organi- 
zation, and  commence  with  those  who  are  willing  to 
begin.  Many  most  successful  clubs  have  had  very 
small  beginnings. 

One  thing  that  speaks  strongly  for  the  Sunday 
evening  club  is  that  it  is  a  stepping-stone  into  the 
membership  of  the  church.  Many  men  in  sympathy 
with  the  Gospel  and  the  church  are  without  its  pale, 
feeling  that  they  cannot  (though  it  be  for  a  poor 
reason)  take  the  stand  naturally  expected  of  regular 
attendants  of  the  church ;  but  when  a  place  is  made  for 
them  in  some  auxiliary  society  they  gladly  fall  into 
line.  Must  we  not  be  willing  to  lead  men  one  step  at 
a  time?  Dr.  Strong,  in  his  "  New  Era,"  shows  that  a 
large  proportion  of  those  who  have  sat  under  the  hear- 
ing of  the  Gospel  have  come  into  the  membership  of 
the  church,  and  that  little  headway  has  been  made 
towards  bringing  non-church-goers  into  the  fold  of 
Christ.  Should  we  not  make  every  effort  possible, 
then,  to  bring  men  where  they  needs  must  hear  the 
Gospel?  —  the  word  shall  not  return  unto  Him  void.^ 
One  pastor  writes  me  that  the  work  of  the  club  and 
the  music  attracted  large  audiences,  but  said  that  he 
preferred  to  have  his  regular  services  to  preach  to 
three  hundred  or  so  who  came  to  hear  the  Gospel.  Is 
that  a  broad-minded  or  right  position?  Eatlier  should 
we  not  rejoice  in  any  means  which  draws  the  people 
where  they  must  hear  the  Gospel  whether  they  want 
to  or  not?     It  is  possible  even  for  a  minister  to  de- 

1  Isaiah  Iv.  11. 
82 


THE  MEN'S  SUNDAY  EVENING  CLUB. 

ceive  himself  and  have  jealous  fear  lest  the  people 
come  to  hear  the  music  rather  than  to  hear  him.  It  is 
again  the  '  *  capital  '  I '  crowned  and  enthroned  in  the 
place  that  belongs  to  Jesus  Christ !  " 

Most  encoui-aging  reports  are  given  by  pastors  rela- 
tive to  the  work  of  the  Sunday  Evening  Club.  In  my 
correspondence  with  over  two  hundred  pastors  who 
have  such  associations,  but  eleven  reported  failures. 
One  of  these  ministers  let  the  club  drop  because,  as 
he  wrote,  ' '  it  required  too  much  time  on  my  part  to 
look  after  it."  It  was  a  failure  in  another  instance, 
the  pastor  writes,  "  because  the  officers  of  the  club 
began  to  incur  heavy  expenses  before  any  provision 
was  made  to  meet  them,  and  a  radical  difference  of 
view  as  to  what  the  club  should  attempt,  with  the 
presence  of  two  or  three  Scotchmen  who  objected  to 
almost  everj^thing. "  Three  other  clubs  reported  suc- 
cessful work  for  the  first  year,  but  did  not  continue 
the  club  thereafter,  one  feeling  it  not  adapted  to  his 
community,  another  because  the  men  "  grew  weary  of 
working,"  another  because  too  expensive.  Another 
club  did  not  continue  because  never  resurrected  by 
the  pastor  and  officers  after  a  summer's  vacation. 
Such  in  general  are  the  reasons  given  for  the  disband- 
ing of  the  Sunday  Evening  Clubs.  Regarding  these 
reasons  I  would  make  but  two  comments :  first,  it  is 
too  much  to  expect  of  any  organization  that  it  will  run 
itself;  and,  secondly,  we  may  expect  a  certain  per- 
centage of  failures  here  as  in  any  enterprise,  as  all 
men  are  not  gifted  with  business  ability. 

The  following  are  extracts  from  letters  received 
from  ministers,  telling  of  the  success  of  their  Club. 
I  only  regret  that  space  does  not  permit  the  printing 
of  all  the  letters  written  me  relative  to  this  work. 

The  Rev.  William  Carter,  Sterling,  111.,  pastor  of  the 
83 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

First  Presbyterian  Church,  among  other  things  writes : 
*'The  Men's  League  has  been  an  unqualified  success 
with  us.  It  was  organized  the  4th  of  November,  1894, 
and  interested  the  men  immediately.  Its  first  year 
was  marked  by  great  enthusiasm,  and  its  second  year 
is  starting  out  better  than  the  first.  Our  charter  mem- 
bership was  thii'ty-five ;  the  second  year  we  doubled  it, 
and  before  the  year  closed  we  had  almost  one  hundred 
members,  and  the  list  continually  growing.  Our  Sab- 
bath evening  congregations  have  increased  over  one 
hundred  per  cent,  and  many  are  now  in  attendance 
that  were  not  interested  in  any  church  before.  As  for 
practical  results,  we  have  a  Missionary  Society  within 
the  League,  which  is  really  constituted  of  all  the 
League  members,  and  a  few  Sundays  ago  a  missionary 
programme  was  given  in  which  all  who  took  part  were 
men.  Certainly  this  shows  an  interest  in  spiritual 
things,  and  is  drawing  men  nearer  the  Kingdom  than 
ever  they  were  before." 

Rev.  Frank  Newhall  White,  associate  pastor  of  the 
Congregational  Church  of  Burlington,  Iowa,  writes: 
"  We  feel  that  the  service  has  been  very  successful. 
A  permanent  congregation  has  thus  been  secured,  and 
often  we  are  privileged  to  minister  to  congregations 
varying  from  six  hundred  to  a  thousand.  Scores  of 
people,  before  habitually  indifferent  to  the  church, 
have  been  aroused  to  active  attendance,  interest,  and 
co-operation.  The  willingness  to  be  known  publicly  as 
members  of  such  an  organization  is  such  an  improve- 
ment on  previous  conditions,  for  a  large  number  of 
men,  that  we  feel  much  has  been  gained.  The  organi- 
zation is  now  recognized  as  one  of  the  positive  forces 
making  for  the  elevation  and  salvation  of  the  city." 

"  Rightly  used,  the  Club  is  an  evangel,"  writes  Rev. 
Dr.  James  A.  Chamberlain,  pastor  of  the  First  Con- 

84 


THE  MEN'S  SUNDAY  EVENING  CLUB. 

gregational  Church  of  Owatonna,  Minn.  Dr.  Cham* 
berlain  says  that  three  things  are  needed  for  a  success- 
ful club.  "  Fn-st,  a  minister  who  can  command  the 
situation.  A  weak  man  should  never  have  a  club. 
Second,  singers  of  sense,  singers  who  will  sing  and 
let  sing.  Here  we  meet  the  greatest  obstacle  of  the 
Sunday  night  service.  Some  singers  want  a  '  holy 
opera;*  some  won't  sing  'if  so  and  so  does.'  Third, 
a  Board  of  Deacons  or  Elders,  who  have  been  con- 
verted and  have  common-sense,  to  stand  by  the 
preacher  and  let  him  convert  men  with  fiddle,  trom- 
bone, flute,  flageolet,  etc.,  etc.  Any  instrument  that 
will  please  men  may  and  ought  to  be  used  for  the 
glory  of  God.'* 

Rev.  J.  H.  Reynard,  pastor  of  the  Sprague  Me- 
morial Presbyterian  Church  of  Tacoma,  Washington, 
writes  of  his  Ciub  :  "  It  is  a  good  success,  — no  trou- 
ble to  fill  the  seats  and  raise  money  to  run  the  business 
end  of  it.     The  services  are  always  evangelistic." 

Rev.  Joseph  H.  Selden,  pastor  of  the  First  Congre- 
gational Church  of  Elgin,  111.,  writes:  "Our  League, 
well  on  in  its  third  year,  has  proved  from  the  first  very 
helpful.  The  Sunday  evening  service  has  doubled  in 
size  under  the  work  of  the  League,  is  larger  than  our 
morning  audience,  has  averaged  for  over  a  year  about 
five  hundred  in  attendance,  and  a  half-dozen  times  in 
the  season  will  reach  nine  hundred.  The  League  has 
reached  and  interested  men  in  the  church,  and  has 
made  for  itself  an  established  place." 

From  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Three  Rivers, 
Mich.,  the  pastor.  Rev.  J.  H.  McPherson,  writes  :  "  My 
primary  object  in  organizing  the  Club  was  to  feel  that 
I  had  around  me  a  band  of  level-headed,  practical 
business  men  to  whom  I  might  go  for  advice,  and  also 
call  upon  for  aid  to  bring  many  of  our  men  into  closer 

85 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHUUCH  WORK. 

touch  with  the  church  and  religious  things.  Towards 
this  end  the  club  has  succeeded  nobly.  Our  evening 
audiences  when  I  came  to  the  church,  about  sixteen 
months  ago,  had  dwindled  down  to  an  average  attend- 
ance of  thirty.  The  evening  audiences  average  to-day 
over  three  hundred  (on  special  or  extra  occasions 
we  have  over  six  hundred),  and  the  interest  is  still 
kept  up." 

Rev.  Charles  S.  Hoyt,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Oak  Park,  111.,  writes  :  "  The  evening  audi- 
ence has  doubled,  and  much  has  been  done  to  unify 
the  church  work,  and  to  increase  a  spirit  of  pride  in 
the  church,  and  loyalty  to  its  interests.  We  have 
succeeded  in  attaching  to  the  church  men  who  were 
indifferent." 

Rev.  C.  A.  Wight,  pastor  of  the  Congregational 
Church  of  Platte^ille,  Wis.,  writes:  "The  audiences 
have  filled  the  house  from  the  start,  and  there  is  no 
decline  of  interest.  Many  people  have  been  regular  in 
attendance  who  did  not  go  to  church  before.  The 
financial  cost  is  almost  nothing  in  our  case,  and  is  met 
by  the  evening  collections.  Some  have  united  with  the 
church  through  the  influence  of  the  Club.  Many  men 
have  gone  to  work  for  the  success  of  the  services  who 
were  doing  nothing  before,  perhaps  not  even  attending 
the  services.  For  fifty  years  the  evening  congregation 
was  a  drag.  A  crowded  house  in  the  evening  gives  an 
Impetus  to  all  departments  of  work." 

Rev.  G.  James  Jones,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Maywood,  HI.,  writes :  "It  has  enlisted 
about  one  half  of  the  men  members  of  our  congregation 
in  practical  work,  visitation,  and  inviting  and  planning 
for  the  Sabbath  evening  service,  which  has  increased 
in  attendance  very  largely.  It  is  the  best  help  of  a 
human  kind  that  a  pastor  can  have." 

86 


THE  MEN'S  SUNDAY  EVENING  CLUB. 

Rev.  Archibald  Haddan,  pastor  of  the  First  Congre- 
gational  Church  of  Muskegon,  Mich.,  writes:  "We 
maintain  a  Vesper  Service  at  5  p.  m.  Sunday.  The 
Club  has  charge  of  it,  and  it  has  become  a  feature  of 
our  church  and  of  the  city.  A  chorus  of  thirty  or 
forty  voices,  accompanied  by  organ  and  orchestra, 
renders  good  music  and  leads  in  the  hymns.  The  good 
results  of  the  Club  are:  First,  the  creation  of  this 
service ;  second,  giving  the  men  a  distinctive  work  to 
do ;  third,  drawing  into  closer  relations  to  the  church  a 
considerable  number  of  men  and  women." 

Rev.  R.  D.  Scott,  pastor  of  the  Belden  Avenue 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Chicago,  has  a  Men's  Associa- 
tion which  is  carrying  on  various  lines  of  church  work. 
One  result  of  this  Association,  the  pastor  writes,  is 
"  that  the  evening  congregations  fill  the  house  so  that 
extra  chairs  are  needed.  The  music  is  attractive,  and 
a  deeper  spiritual  interest  prevails.  The  Club  is  a  pre- 
eminently good  thing,  and  is  capable  of  indefinite  ex- 
pansion. Making  men  know  each  other  intimately  is  a 
great  point  gained,  and  one  which  we  magnify." 

Rev.  Willis  E.  Parsons,  pastor  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  of  Danville,  III.,  writes  of  his  Club  as 
follows :  "  There  has  been  a  large  increase  in  attend- 
ance, and  a  growing  interest  on  the  part  of  the  men  of 
the  League  in  the  evening  service,  brighter  and  more 
helpful  services,  and  the  cheering  of  the  heart  of  the 
pastor.  The  men  of  the  League  too  are  more  inter- 
ested in  the  general  work  of  the  church.  In  their 
meetings  they  consult  concerning  the  church  as  a  whole, 
and  are  willing  to  do  work  that  hitherto  they  did  not 
do.  As  I  look  at  the  Men's  League  in  this  church,  I 
feel  that  there  is  no  limiting  its  possibilities  for  useful- 
ness if  it  be  wisely  directed." 

Rev.  E.  L.  Smith,  pastor  of  the  Congregational 
87 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

Church  of  Walla  Walla,  Washington,  writes:  "Our 
Sunday  Evening  Club  is  now  two  years  old,  and  has 
been  of  great  practical  service  in  enlisting  the  active 
co-operation  of  many  young  men  for  the  church  and  in 
filling  the  church  on  Sunday  evenings.  The  danger 
has  been  to  drift  too  much  toward  entertainment  in  the 
evening  music,  but  this  has  been  bravely  met  and  over- 
come. The  result  is  more  people  hearing  the  Gospel 
and  more  at  work  for  Christ  and  the  Church." 

Rev.  Edward  F.  Goff,  pastor  of  the  First  Congrega- 
tional Church  of  Aurora,  111. :  "  We  have  no  difficulty 
in  filling  our  audience-room  every  Sunday  evening.  We 
frequently  need  to  place  chairs  in  the  aisles.  Non- 
church-goers  begin  to  cultivate  a  habit  of  church 
attendance,  and  place  themselves  within  the  sphere  of 
pastoral  influence."  Mr.  Goff  adds  :  "  I  try  to  remem- 
ber that  the  object  of  the  evening  service  is  spiritual 
and  saving,  —  that  whatever  leads  the  people  to  the 
church,  when  I  get  them  there,  I  must  do  them  good. 
The  most  varied  and  attractive  service  may  also  be  the 
most  spiritual." 

Rev.  J.  Monroe  Markley,  pastor  of  the  First  Con- 
gregational Church  of  Lee  Center,  111.,  writes  in  the 
following  encouraging  way  about  the  work  of  a  men's 
club  in  a  small  town.  Lee  Center  is  a  country  place 
of  between  two  hundred  and  fifty  and  three  hundred 
inhabitants,  and  Mr.  Markley's  church  is  composed 
mainly  of  country  people,  but  he  says  :  "  I  have  proven 
most  conclusively  that  the  methods  of  the  Men's  Sun- 
day Evening  Club  can  be  utilized  successfully  in  the 
country  church.  Our  church  is  crowded  at  every  even- 
ing service,  and  often  chairs  are  placed  in  the  aisle;  all 
available  standing  room  is  occupied.  During  the 
warmest  weather  last  summer  we  turned  people  away 
by   scores   who  were    not   able   to   gain   admittance, 

88 


THE  MEN'S  SUNDAY  EVENING  CLUB. 

and  this  matter  of  attendance  is  only  one  indication 
of  an  increased  interest  manifested  in  every  line  of 
church  work.  It  has  far  surpassed  my  most  sanguine 
expectations." 

One  of  the  most  successful  cluT^s  in  the  country,  and 
one  that  has  done  much  to  extend  the  movement,  is  that 
in  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Austin,  111.,  of  which 
the  Rev.  John  Clark  Hill,  D.D.,  is  pastor.  He  gives 
the  following  account  of  the  results  of  the  work  of  the 
Men's  Club  in  his  church :  ' '  The  work  of  the  Men's 
Club  in  our  parish  has  forced  the  church  and  its  work 
for  the  good  of  men  and  the  glory  of  God  upon  the 
attention  of  the  community  in  such  a  way  that  it  has 
resulted  in  gathering  a  congregation  on  Sunday  even- 
iugs  that  is  limited  only  by  the  size  of  our  building. 
It  has  done  this  without  in  any  way  affecting  the  audi- 
ences of  other  churches.  It  has  brought  together  con- 
gregations at  these  services  in  which  nearly  seventy- 
five  per  cent  are  males  ;  it  has  brought  these  men  week 
after  week  under  the  influence  of  the  preaching  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  read,  preached,  and  sung ;  it  has  stim- 
ulated every  department  of  our  church  work  to  greater 
zeal ;  it  has  brought  the  men  of  the  congregation,  and 
very  many  outside  of  it,  into  a  closer  sympathy  with 
evangelistic  work ;  it  has  brought  these  men  into  social 
contact  that  is  a  help  to  them  and  to  the  church.  It 
has  done  this  by  persistent  advertising,  a  great  variety 
of  good  music,  short  discourses ;  and  by  giving  the 
people  a  large  share  in  the  service,  in  congregational 
prayers,  as  well  as  in  praise  and  responsive  reading ; 
and  by  the  willingness  to  be  led  in  all  details  by  the 
Holy  Spirit,  that  Christ  may  be  glorified." 

From  the  report  rendered  at  the  Fourth  Anniversary 
of  the  Young  Men's  Sunday  Evening  Club  of  the  First 
Congregational  Church  of  Appleton,  Wis.,  Rev.  Jehu 

89 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

Faville,  D.D.,  pastor,  I  take  the  following  extracts, 
which  show  how  the  work  has  fared  in  one  of  the 
pioneer  churches  in  this  movement :  — 

"  The  results  have  more  than  justified  the  movement. 
The  Club  enters  to-day  upon  its  fifth  year  of  work.  It 
has  grown  in  strength  and  usefulness  each  year.  The 
membership  of  twenty  at  its  organization  has  increased 
to  five  hundred  and  sixty.  The  average  attendance  at 
the  evening  service  has  increased  from  one  hundred 
and  fifty  to  six  hundred  and  fifty.  The  Club  has  as- 
sisted in  the  morning  service,  increased  the  size  of  the 
parish,  helped  meet  the  financial  demands,  carried  on 
for  three  years  a  successful  lecture  course,  developed 
a  better  social  life,  identified  itself  with  the  local  chari- 
ties of  the  city,  and  in  other  ways  has  helped  to  make 
the  church  a  house  of  life.  Not  the  least  of  the  many 
surprises  in  this  movement  has  been  the  readiness  with 
which  so  many  men  have  responded  when  given  some- 
thing to  do  for  the  evening  service."  The  anniversary 
programme  of  this  club  also  bore  the  following  large- 
hearted  message:  ''The  Club  extends  fraternal  greet- 
ings to  all  similar  associations,  of  which  there  are 
many,  and  is  glad  to  give  all  the  information  and  as- 
sistance possible." 

Pastors  purposing  to  organize  a  Sunday  Evening 
Club  will  find,  I  am  sure,  that  all  clubs  are  glad  to 
help  and  co-operate  in  extending  the  movement.  A 
glance  at  the  different  Sunday  evening  programmes 
of  different  clubs  will  be  found  most  helpful  and 
suggestive. 


90 


THE  SUNDAY  EVENING  SERVICE. 


CHAPTEK   X. 

THE   SUNDAY  EVENING  SERVICE. 

The  Church  was  founded  by  Christ  as  his  great  instrument  in  sav- 
ing the  world,  and  its  great  purpose  should  be  to  reach  men  and  save 
them.  .  .  .  Teach  the  Church  that  it  has  a  commission  from  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  Teach  it  that  unless  it  puts  forth  every  effort  to  reach 
men  with  the  Gospel  it  cannot  retain  that  commission,  and  it  will  learn 
that  it  must  pay  attention  to  the  Sunday  evening  service,  for  with  this 
definition  at  its  heart  and  its  spirit  kindled  with  what  it  means,  it  will 
soon  find  that  the  Sabbath  evening  is  the  time  of  all  others  when  the 
people  can  and  must  be  reached.  For  instance,  it  will  find  that  the 
laborer  .  .  .  having  no  religious  principles  to  draw  him  to  church  re- 
mains at  home,  but  in  the  evening  it  is  otherwise.  The  long  hours  of 
the  day  have  given  a  surfeit  of  mere  rest,  and  the  man  and  his  family 
are  on  the  lookout  for  some  place  to  which  they  may  go.  They  want 
to  forget  their  work  and  their  trials.  They  go  out  upon  the  street. 
They  find  one  church  with  its  doors  barred.  They  find  another  with  a 
few  score  of  people  assembled  where  there  is  room  for  thousands.  Into 
the  first  they  could  not  go  if  they  would,  and  into  the  second  they  will 
not  go  if  they  can.  They  want  to  be  where  men  are,  and  where  they 
can  feel  the  warm  touch  and  glow  of  life,  and  so  they  pass  by  these 
doors  and  go  to  houses  of  entertainment  that  bid  for  their  patronage. 

Rev.  Charles  S.  Mills. 

Many  an  anxious  pastor  has  asked,  "What  shall  we 
do  with  the  Sunday  evening  service  ?  "  This  has  long 
been  a  serious  question.  Some  have  dropped  this 
second  service,  others  have  shifted  it  to  the  afternoon, 
and  others  have  permitted  it  ' '  to  struggle  under  the 
incubus  of  being  a  second-rate  affair,  holding  it  in  the 
basement  or  back  chapel. "  ^  Many  churches  which  are 
filled   in   the  morning  are  weU-nigh  empty  at  night. 

1  Eev.  Charles  S.  Mills,  Report  of  the  Fifth  Convention  of 
Christian  Workers,  Hartford,  Conn.,  1890,  p.  59. 

n 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHUKCH  WORK. 

The  complaint  has  been  a  lack  of  interest  on  the  part 
of  church-members  and  no  inclination  on  the  part  of 
non-church-goers  to  attend  the  evening  meeting.  But 
this  state  of  affairs  has  not  been  looked  upon,  for  the 
most  part,  with  complacency,  nor  regarded  as  a  finality 
by  earnest  ministers ;  they  have  faced  the  perplex- 
ing problem,  and  already  beginnings  have  been  made 
toward  a  satisfactory  solution. 

In  the  chapter  on  the  Men's  Sunday  Evening  Club, 
testimonies  are  given  of  most  successful  Sabbath  even- 
ing services,  showing  a  several-fold  increase  in  attend- 
ance, and  proportionate  results  in  reaching  the  unsaved. 
This  work  of  the  Club  is,  I  believe,  one  of  the  greatest 
helps  as  yet  called  to  the  assistance  of  the  evening 
service.  But  there  are  many  ways  in  which  the 
second  service  of  worship  may  be  made  helpful  and 
interesting. 

1.  The  Musical  Service  is  always  an  acceptable  va- 
riation from  the  usual  formal  preaching  service.  It  is 
more  than  a  pleasant  change,  —  it  is  a  change  afford- 
ing unusual  possibilities  for  good.  Many  who  will  not 
come  to  hear  the  Word  preached  will  come  to  hear  the 
Word  sung,  and  others  who  seemingly  are  not  touched 
by  anything  else  are  reached  by  the  sweet  message  of 
song.  It  was  Henry  Ward  Beecher  who  said,  "  You 
are  conscious  when  you  go  to  an  earnest  meeting  that 
while  hymns  are  being  sung  and  you  listen  to  them, 
your  heart  is,  as  it  were,  loosened,  and  there  comes  out 
of  those  hymns  to  you  a  realization  of  the  truth  as  you 
never  heard  it  before."  Ever  since  the  morning  stars 
first  sang  together,  music  has  played  a  large  part  in 
worship. 

The  musical  service,  when  wisely  conducted,  has 
proven  to  be  a  most  impressive  service.  A  prominent 
church  in  New  York  City,  at  the  suggestion  of  the 

92 


THE  SUNDAY  EVENING  SERVICE. 

chorister,  commenced  giving  a  musical  service  once  a 
month,  and  at  once  the  attendance  on  the  evening  ser- 
vice increased  from  two  hundred  and  fifty  to  an  aver- 
age attendance  of  over  six  hundred,  and  mth  an 
attendance  of  nine  and  eleven  hundred  at  the  musical 
service. 

It  is  to  be  remembered  that  in  a  meeting  of  this 
kind  there  should  be  perfect  harmony  between  the 
service  and  the  pastor's  own  soul.  Prayerful,  spiritual, 
painstaking  preparation  is  just  as  essential  here  as  in 
any  other  service.  The  programmes  of  such  services 
are  varied  according  to  the  ability  of  the  choir  to  ren- 
der music,  and  the  taste  of  the  pastor  who  directs  the 
service.  The  music  which  is  the  most  spiritual,  such 
as  Gounod's  "  Sauctus  "  and  selections  from  Handel's 
"  Messiah,"  has  always  proven  not  only  the  most  help- 
ful, but  also  the  most  attractive  to  the  people.  This 
music  is  an  uplift,  presents  the  truth  in  a  persuasive 
way,  and  also  increases  the  interest  of  the  choir,  mag- 
nifying their  importance  and  giving  them  music  that 
readily  commands  their  best  effort.  In  addition  to 
anthems,  solos,  quartettes,  and  duets,  there  is  a  pro- 
gramme of  congregational  singing,  scriptural  lessons 
or  responsive  readings,  and  such  varied  exercises  as 
the  pastor  may  arrange.  The  minister  usually  gives  a 
short  sermon  of  twelve  or  fifteen  minutes,  —  the  best 
that  he  can  do  in  that  time  without  one  unnecessary  or 
irrelevant  word.  Some  ministers  vary  these  services  by 
an  occasional  brief  lecture  on  music,  again  by  having 
the  burden  of  the  programme  consist  of  hymns  by  the 
congregation,  the  preacher  giving  a  brief  history  of  the 
hymns,  —  the  occasion  of  the  writing,  and  possibly  some 
anecdote  in  the  life  of  the  writer,  before  the  singing  of 
each  selection.  For  such  information  the  busy  pastor 
wUl  find  some  good  work  on  hymnology  invaluable. 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

For  worship  in  Berkeley  Temple,  Boston,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Dickinson  prepared  a  series  of  Sunday  evening 
services,  which  are  somewhat  different  from  those  de- 
scribed. They  are  more  in  the  nature  of  a  liturgical 
service,  and  the  readings  and  responses  alternate  by 
minister,  people,  and  choir.  It  is  interesting  to  state, 
in  this  connection,  that  the  audiences  of  Berkeley 
Temple  usually  take  every  foot  of  available  space. 

2.  This  leads  me  to  say  a  word  as  to  the  use  of 
liturgy.  Rev.  John  Clark  Hill,  D.D.,  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Austin,  HI.,  recently,  as  a  test, 
made  a  morning  service  somewhat  liturgical  in  form. 
He  says :  "I  found  the  people  are  in  most  hearty  ac- 
cord with  this  style  of  service.  ...  I  believe  we  have 
gotten  out  of  touch  with  the  people  during  the  past 
generation,  partly  because  they  had  so  very  little  to  do 
In  church  services.  There  is  no  reason  why  the  people 
should  not  unite  in  a  prose  prayer  in  concert  when 
there  is  no  objection  whatever  to  their  singing  a  prayer 
in  verse  written  by  another."  In  the  rebound  from 
the  formalism  of  the  Catholic  Church  and  other  ritual- 
istic churches,  the  Church  generally  has  fallen  into  a 
different  phase  of  formalism  in  allowing  our  worship  to 
receive  verbal  expression  only  by  the  lips  of  another. 
There  is  a  growing  tendency  with  many  ministers  of 
nearly  all  denominations  to  bring  more  liturgy  into  the 
service,  —  at  least  enough  to  give  the  people  to  feel 
that  they  have  a  share  in  and  are  important  to  the  ser- 
vice. And  so  far  as  I  have  learned,  on  careful  in- 
quiry, this  tendency  has  been  well  received  by  the 
people  and  has  been  attended  with  most  gratifying  re- 
sults. But  again,  let  pastor  and  people  expect  nothing 
from  mere  method.  "Wheels"  are  all  right,  but  we 
must  have  the  "  living  Spirit  in  the  midst  of  the 
wheels." 

94 


THE  SUNDAY  EVENING  SERVICE. 

3.  Another  method  which  has  met  with  good  results 
in  drawing  the  masses  and  in  bringing  the  Gospel  to 
bear  on  the  hearts  of  the  people  is  what  is  called  the 
Brookfield  Service.  It  originated  with  a  number  of 
neighboring  pastors  in  Massachusetts,  in  1889,  as  a 
result  of  a  conference  of  Congregational  ministers  for 
devising  ways  of  reaching  the  people  with  the  Gospel. 
Opportunity  appealed  to  them  in  the  Sunday  evening 
meeting.  Accordingly  a  new  order  of  service  was 
carefully  prepared,  consisting  of  responsive  readings, 
—  interspersed  throughout  the  programmes, —  readings 
in  concert,  prayers,  a  varied  programme  of  music, 
Scripture  reading,  and  a  short  gospel  sermon.  A 
series  of  programmes  were  prepared  on  such  funda- 
mental gospel  subjects  as,  1.  The  Law  of  God  (Its 
character  and  man's  relation  to  it);  2.  Penitence  and 
Confession  (On  account  of  sin) ;  3.  The  Cross  of 
Christ  (The  remedy  for  sin),  and  like  themes.  Every 
part  of  each  programme  bears  directly  and  in  a  logical 
and  forcible  way  upon  the  theme  subject,  and  there  is 
painstaking  attention  to  detail,  with  ample  provision 
for  variation  as  may  be  demanded  by  the  need  of  each 
church.  The  programmes  are  simply  and  comprehen- 
sively arranged,  so  that  congregations  not  accustomed 
to  liturgy  can  use  them  wkh  enjoyment.  The  music, 
the  evangelistic  tone  of  the  whole  programme,  and  the 
large  part  given  the  people  make  the  service  attractive 
and  helpful.^ 

4.  Another  way  of  varying  the  Sunday  evening 
meeting,  and  one  which  the  most  conservative  cannot 
question,  is  by  having  a  Special  Night  Service.  For 
instance,  a  temperance  night,  a  young  people's  night, 
a  business  men's  night,  a  women's  night,  a  good-citizen- 

1  Further  information  can  he  ohtained  by  addressing  Hartford 
Seminary  Press,  Hartford,  Conn. 

95 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

ship  night,  a  public-school  night;  and  like  important 
subjects.  Our  national  as  well  as  church  calendar 
will  also  suggest  timely  themes,  such  as  the  anniver- 
sary of  oui-  national  flag,  victory  at  Yorktown,  Land- 
ing of  the  Pilgrims,  and  so  forth.  The  presence  of 
the  stars  and  stripes  and  other  appropriate  decora- 
tions at  such  times  is  helpful.  "Timely"  subjects 
always  come  to  people  with  unusual  appeal  and  in- 
terest, and  afford  opportunity  for  making  deep  and 
lasting  impressions.  It  is  not  enough,  however, 
that  the  simple  announcement  of  a  Special  Service 
be  given.  It  should  be  made  special  by  the  strongest 
programme  within  the  resources  of  the  minister.  Let 
every  wheel  that  will  add  an  ounce  of  influence  or 
power  be  set  in  motion.  Advertise  thoroughly.  One 
thiDg  should  be  guarded  against:  promise  should 
never  be  made  or  implied  through  announcement 
or  advertisement  of  more  than  an  evening  will  give. 
If  there  is  any  disappointment,  it  is  far  better  that 
it  be  a  happy  one,  —  for  instance  that  more  music 
and  better  music  be  given  than  was  announced ;  that 
the  service  throughout  be  found  brighter,  pleasanter, 
and  more  helpful  than  had  been  anticipated.  This 
does  not  preclude  strong  announcements,  but  com- 
pels strong  services.  Awaken  high  anticipation  and 
meet  it ! 

5.  A  series  of  special  Sunday  evening  sermons  is  an 
old  and  ever-new  attraction.  The  subjects  of  many 
such  series,  from  pastors  who  have  been  especially 
successful  in  drawing  large  evening  congregations, 
have  come  into  my  hands.  I  have  been  impressed 
that  such  series  are  usually  on  practical  topics,  such 
as  "Christianity  and  a  Life  of  Business,"  "Chris- 
tianity and  the  Professions,"  "Christianity  and  the 
Teacher,"  "  Religion  and  the  Public  Schools,"  "  Chris- 

96 


THE  SUNDAY  EVENING  SERVICE. 

tianity  and  the  Home ;  "  ^  and  on  such  evangelistic 
subjects  as  "Salvation  —  Man  Needs  It,"  "Salvation 
—  God  Provides  it,"  "Salvation  —  Faith  Secures  It," 
* '  Salvation  —  Christ  Assures  it. "  ^ 

In  the  Fu'st  Presbyterian  Church  of  Los  Angeles, 
Cal.,  during  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  J.  L.  Russell, 
D.D.,  a  series  of  Sunday  evening  lectures  on  sacred 
subjects  was  given  by  prominent  laymen  of  that 
church  and  other  evangelical  churches  in  the  city. 
Sometimes  there  were  two  brief  addresses  given  dur- 
ing the  same  evening.  The  speakers  were  lawyers, 
teachers,  and  cultivated  business  men,  and  the  series 
was  received  with  great  interest  by  large  audiences. 

The  special  ser\ace  and  the  series  of  sermons  have 
the  advantage  also  of  commanding,  usually,  the  atten- 
tion of  the  press.  The  reporting  of  sermons  should  be 
encouraged;  it  draws  attention  to  the  services,  mag- 
nifies the  work,  and  preaches  the  Gospel  over  again. 
This  is  not  seeking  notoriety ;  it  is  seeking  to  spread 
the  Gospel. 

6.  The  Illustrated  Service.  The  Sunday  evening 
meeting  has  also  been  improved  in  many  churches  by 
drawing  spiritual  lessons  from  objects  of  nature  and 
by  illustrating  religious  truth  by  use  of  pictures.  This 
has  proven  an  effective  way  of  attracting  the  people 
and  of  appealing  through  eye  and  ear  to  the  heart. 
These  illustrated  services  are  not  given  with  the  thought 
that  "a  substitute  is  needed  for  the  old  Gospel,  or 
that  pictures  can  take  the  place  of  preaching,"  but 
they  are  used  as  a  means  of  preaching. 

This  method  is  not  new.     It  is  as  old  as  God's  rain- 

^  Rev.  Elijah  Horr,  D.D.,  pastor  of  the  Piedmont  Congregational 
Church,  Worcester,  Mass. 

2  Rev.  John  Clark  Hill,  D.D.,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
Austin,  111. 

7  97 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

bow  covenant.  Again,  when  God  made  covenant  with 
Abraham,  He  addressed  him  through  the  eye  as  well 
as  the  ear.  The  covenant  was  consummated  by  the 
symbol  of  fire,  and  the  "  Friend  of  God  "  knew  that 
he  was  under  Divine  favor.  From  the  beginning  this 
has  been  the  Divine  way  of  teaching.  In  the  Old 
Testament  there  are  upwards  of  seven  hundred  and 
fifty  allusions  to  Christ  in  types,  ceremonies,  and 
symbols.  The  whole  sacrificial  system  of  the  Jewish 
economy  is  on  the  principle  of  teaching  the  spiritual 
by  things  material.  What  but  this  was  the  meaning  of 
the  Passover,  the  Feasts,  the  Offerings,  and  the  Sacri- 
fices? Even  the  several  parts  of  the  Tabernacle  had 
some  special  spiritual  meaning.  In  like  manner  God 
taught  Elijah,  Elisha,  Ezekiel,  Jeremiah,  and  others. 
Our  blessed  Lord  used  natural  objects  for  illustrating 
the  truth  which  he  preached,  —  not  merely  alluding  to 
the  objects,  but  drawing  lessons  from  their  visible 
presence.  What  is  more  forcible  than  his  illustration 
to  the  woman  at  the  well?  Or  his  taking  little  chil- 
dren in  his  arms  and  talking  to  the  people  about  receiving 
"  the  Kingdom  of  God  as  a  little  child  "?  Jesus,  too, 
drew  lessons  from  nature,  the  field,  the  flower,  thus 
making  simple  and  clear  his  meaning,  and  reaching 
hearts  through  eye  and  ear!  Why  fear  and  hesitate 
to  follow  his  example? 

The  science  of  the  mind  has  shown  us  much  in 
recent  years  of  the  power  of  teaching  through  the  eye 
as  well  as  the  ear.  Teaching  by  illustration  arrests 
the  attention  at  once,  concentrates  thought,  excites 
interest,  and  awakens  imagination.  When  John  B. 
Gough  was  appealing  for  aid  in  the  building  of  the 
Five  Points  Mission,  to  a  large  audience  in  New  York, 
after  telling  the  sad  story  of  a  fallen  woman,  he  called 
to  his  side  a  little  girl  from  the  front  of  the  audience, 

98 


THE  SUNDAY  EVENING  SERVICE. 

and,  lifting  the  child  so  that  all  could  see  her  sweet 
face  and  tossing  curls,  said,  *'Now,  how  much  will 
you  give  to  save  this  child  and  hundreds  like  her?" 
The  money  was  raised.  No  one  thought  him  sacri- 
legious, and  every  week  now  hundreds  of  children 
gather  in  the  Five  Points  Mission  and  sing  of  Won- 
drous Love.  The  Rev.  C.  H.  Tyndall,  former  pastor 
of  the  Broome  Street  Tabernacle,  New  York,  was  very 
successful  in  drawing  spiritual  lessons  from  objects  of 
nature,  giving  an  object  sermon  about  once  a  month. 
It  was  his  experience  that  it  increased  the  attendance 
at  the  service  and  crystallized  the  truth  in  the  minds  of 
his  hearers  by  the  association  of  ideas.  In  his  book 
entitled  "  Object  Sermons  in  Outline,"  he  very  clearly 
shows  how  such  sermons  may  be  undertaken.  He 
gives  numerous  subjects  that  may  be  profitably  illus- 
trated, indicates  the  objects  to  be  used,  the  lessons  to 
be  drawn  from  them,  and  shows  in  a  very  practical 
way  how  to  arrange  both  the  objects  and  the  ideas  of 
the  sermons. 

There  are  other  kinds  of  illustrated  services  which 
have  been  used  to  advantage.  The  next  to  be  men- 
tioned is  the  Pulpit  Paintings  of  Edwin  M.  Long  and 
Son.^  These  paintings  for  the  purpose  of  illustrating 
sermons  had  their  origin,  it  is  said,  in  the  great  revival 
of  1858.  Since  that  time  pastors  have  increasingly 
used  these  paintings,  and  strongest  testimonies  are 
given  of  their  help  in  getting  and  holding  Sabbath 
evening  congregations,  and  of  their  educational  and 
evangelizing  force.  The  paintings  are  illustrations 
of  Bible  history  and  teachings,  and  are  arranged  in 
series,  with  three  paintings  for  one  sermon  and  four 
rolls  (twelve   paintings)  for  a  month's   course.     The 

1  Address  Edwin  M.  Long  &  Son,  S.  E.  corner  12th  and  Berks 
Streets,  Pliiladelpliia,  Pa. 

99 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

subjects  covered  include  Scenes  in  the  Life  of  Christ, 
Great  Questions  of  the  Bible,  Scenes  in  the  Lives  of 
the  Apostles,  Old  Testament  Biography,  and  the 
Gospel  of  the  Pentateuch.  The  paintings  are  rented. 
Illustrated  cliart  sermons  (engravings),  said  to  be 
copies  of  the  pulpit  paintings,  are  considerably  cheaper. 

Another  method  of  illustrating  sermons  is  by  use  of 
the  stereopticon.  Like  the  innovation  of  the  Sunday- 
school,  Mission  Societies,  and  the  Young  People's 
Movement,  this  new  method  of  presenting  the  Gospel 
has  received  severest  criticism.  I  fear  that  some 
share  the  prejudice  against  the  stereopticon  for  the 
preaching  service  without  a  careful  canvass  of  the  situ- 
ation and  the  work  it  has  accomplished,  or  without 
having  ever  been  eye-witness  to  such  services.  Is 
such  a  judgment  a  considerate  one  ?  Preaching  by 
means  of  stereopticon  pictures  is  no  longer  an  experi- 
ment. And  from  every  quarter  there  come  testimonies 
that  the  new  method  is  successful  in  bringing  the  un- 
churched masses  into  the  church,  and  is  being  blessed 
of  God  in  preaching  the  Gospel  with  converting  power. 
Many  come,  doubtless,  through  curiosity  or  interest  in 
the  pictures  rather  than  the  Gospel.  Paul  rejoiced 
that  Christ  was  preached,  even  ''  of  contention,  not 
sincerely,"^  as  well  as  of  love.  Let  us  rejoice  that 
people  come  where  Christ  is  preached,  though  not  con- 
strained by  the  motive  of  love.  God  has  promised  to 
bless  his  Word. 

The  stereopticon  service,  when  taken  hold  of  with 
painstaking  care  and  prayerful  preparation,  is  a  deeply 
impressive,  spiritual,  and  beautiful  service.  The  heart 
is  reached  through  the  eye,  the  Gospel  is  simply  told, 
and  many  are  brought  into  saving  knowledge  of  Jesus 
Christ.     Rev.  W.  A.  Mason,  D.D.,  Baptist,  Minneapo- 

1  Phih"ppians  i.  16,  18. 
100 


THE   SUNDAY   EVENING  SERVICE. 

lis,  Minn.,  is  authority  for  saying  that  sixty  con- 
versions attended  a  minister's  illustrated  lectures  on 
the  life  of  Christ,  and  that  ' '  there  are  in  the  world  to- 
day thousands  who  associate  the  stereopticon  with 
their  most  precious  religious  hopes."  ^  We  must  ad- 
mit that  the  method  of  preaching  is  somewhat  unusual. 
But  when  we  remember  that  one-half  our  country's 
population  is  estranged  from  the  church,  that  every 
two  persons  out  of  three  of  the  world's  population 
have  never  heard  of  the  Gospel,  it  seems  time  for 
something  "  unusual."  Mr.  Moody  has  said :  "  When 
God  works,  many  things  will  be  done  '  out  of  the  regular 
order.' "  ^  When  some  way  of  working,  though  unusual, 
has  been  blessed  of  God  in  winning  souls  to  Christ,  is 
it  not  time  that  we  question  our  prejudices  rather  than 
the  methods? 

In  many  parishes,  no  doubt,  such  illustrated  Sabbath 
evening  services  would  not  be  advisable.  We  must 
be  governed  by  the  law  of  adaptability.  In  other 
parishes  the  best  way  to  begin  is  by  first  using  the  stere- 
opticon in  the  prayer  meeting  or  a  lecture  on  Missions, 
or  by  giving  a  series  of  three  or  four  lectures,  week- 
evenings,  on  such  subjects  as  "  The  Life  of  Christ," 
"Pilgrim's  Progress,"  "The  Story  of  Ruth,"  "The 
Holy  Land."  Views  illustrative  of  some  of  the  popular 
and  standard  hymns,  such  as  "  Rock  of  Ages," 
"Nearer  my  God  to  Thee,"  or  "Onward,  Christian 
Soldiers,"  should  also  be  given;  while  these  views  are 
being  presented,  the  hymn  may  be  sung  as  a  solo,  or 
in  concert  by  the  congregation.  In  addition  to  this, 
other  hymns  with  words  in  full  may  be  thrown  upon 
the  screen  from  time  to  time  for  congregational  singing. 

1  Eeprint  from  "  Open  Church/'  in  pamphlet,  by  Riley  Brothers, 
on  "  Solved  :  The  Sunday  Evening  Service,"  p.  29. 

2  To  the  Work,  p.  14. 

101 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

For  the  Sabbath  evening  service,  in  addition  to  the 
hymns  and  views  illustrating  the  sermon,  other  things, 
giving  variety  to  the  service,  may  be  thrown  on  the 
screen,  such  as  the  Apostles'  Creed  and  Psalms  for 
unison  and  responsive  reading. 

Stereopticon  views  and  lantern  can  be  rented  from 
any  one  of  a  number  of  opticians  in  our  various  cities. 
Where  the  lantern  is  owned,  the  cost  is,  of  course, 
much  less.  The  increase  in  collections  ought  to  cover 
the  increase  in  expense. 

7.  Special  features.  The  Rev.  Henry  H.  Stebbins, 
D.D.,  pastor  of  the  Central  Church,  Rochester,  N.Y., 
regards  the  following  as  among  the  features  of  the 
successful  evening  service  in  Rochester :  — 

1.  Personal  work  at  hotels,  through  letters  and  calls. 

2.  The  provision  of  a  bright,  attractive  Order  of  Wor- 
ship, circulated  at  the  door,  and  in  sufficient  quantities  to 
allow  every  attendant  to  have  one. 

3.  Singing,  —  popular,  rather  than  artistic. 

4.  Sermons,  —  evangelistic  in  tone,  but  addressed  to  men 
where  they  live. 

5.  Amiable  and  vigorous  competition  among  the  churches, 
stimulated  by  what  some  had  done,  that  fed  the  conviction 
that  the  same  could  be  done  elsewhere. 

The  prelude  is  another  feature  employed  by  some 
pastors,  and  questioned  by  as  many  more.  The  pre- 
lude is  a  five  or  eight  minute  address  before  the  sermon, 
on  some  popular  subject  or  issue  of  the  day.  In  speak- 
ing of  it,  Dr.  Stebbins  said  :  "  I  am  bound  to  say  that 
I  think  the  prelude  has  perhaps  attracted  some.  I  am 
not  in  sympathy  with  that  sort  of  thing,  for  various 
reasons.  I  do  think,  however,  it  has  attracted  people 
who  would  not  otherwise  have  attended  the  service. 
I  do  not  employ  it  myself,  and  it  is  a  question  whether 
it  will  serve  permanently  as  a  magnet." 

102 


THE  SUNDAY  EVENING  SERVICE. 

In  Bethany  Presbyterian  Church,  Philadelphia,  it  is 
the  custom  from  time  to  time  to  place  the  advertising 
of  the  Sunday  evening  service  in  the  hands  of  some 
one  of  the  societies  of  the  church,  as  the  Christian 
Endeavor,  Andrew  and  Philip,  or  Sunday-school.  The 
society  chosen  uses  every  effort,  by  cards  and  personal 
work  and  through  friends  and  supporters,  to  advertise 
this  service.  At  times  the  work  of  the  various  organi- 
zations of  the  church  is  magnified  and  brought  promi- 
nently forward  by  having  the  officers  of  such  society 
sit  on  the  platform,  reference  being  made  to  the  work 
of  the  society  during  the  exercises  of  the  evening. 
This  church  aims  always  to  have  something  special  for 
the  Sunday  evening  services,  but  never  aims  to  be 
sensational.  Occasionally  the  church  uses  the  stere- 
opticon  for  the  opening  song  service,  then  following 
with  a  sermon. 


108 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 


CHAPTER  XL 

THE  AFTER  MEETING. 

The  after  meeting,  held  at  the  close  of  the  last 
preachiDg-service  of  the  Sabbath,  is  for  various  pur- 
poses :  To  ask  God's  blessing  as  a  seal  to  deepen  and 
quicken  the  spiritual  impressions  of  the  day,  to  hear 
requests  for  prayer,  and  to  make  appeal  to  the  impeni- 
tent and  the  wanderer  to  accept  Jesus  Christ  as  their 
personal  Saviour.  The  dominant  purpose  of  the  meet- 
ing must,  of  course,  be  determined  by  the  circumstances 
of  the  time  and  the  prevailing  conditions  of  the  church 
and  the  community. 

The  after  meeting  is  not  merely  for  large  congrega- 
tions. Wherever  there  is  a  church,  there  is  reason  for 
this  service.  It  gives  opportunity  for  the  people  of  the 
church  to  come  together  informally  when  their  hearts 
are  warm  and  aglow  with  Divine  truth,  and  when  in- 
evitably they  must  come  closer  together  in  sympathy 
and  Christian  feeling,  and  closer  to  Him  who  is  the 
Great  Head  of  the  Church. 

There  are  several  features  of  the  successful  after- 
meeting  which  through  experience  have  come  to  be 
recognized  as  essential  to  it. 

That  the  meeting  may  be  informal  and  a  marked 
change  from  the  preaching  service  which  has  preceded, 
it' is  usually  held  in  some  smaller,  adjoining  room,  such 
as  the  Sunday-school  room  or  chapel.  When  no 
such  room  is  available,  the  need  is  met  by  the  pastor 

104 


THE   AFTER  MEETING. 

coming  from  the  pulpit  and  taking  a  chair  on  the  floor 
in  front  of  the  pulpit. 

There  are  several  ways  of  giving  the  invitation  to 
the  after  meeting.  It  is  frequently  given  thus : 
"  After  the  benediction  we  will  pass  to  the  closing 
service  of  the  day,  held  in  the  adjoining  room  for  fifteen 
minutes,  to  ask  God's  blessing  upon  the  labors  of  the 
day,  and  for  general  conference,  testimony,  and  prayer. 
We  invite  you  all  to  come  to  this  service.  It  is  fre- 
quently the  best  one  of  the  day,  gathering  up  the  bless- 
ings of  them  all."  The  doors  opening  to  the  room 
should  be  clearly  indicated,  always,  that  any  stranger 
present  may  not  suffer  any  excuse  to  turn  him  away. 
The  invitation  at  another  time  may  be  to  different 
classes  of  people,  as,  first,  to  all  those  who  desire  to 
draw  nearer  to  God  and  to  unite  in  prayer  for  his 
abiding  blessing  upon  the  services  of  this  day ;  second, 
any  one  who  desires  to  request  the  prayers  of  Christian 
people  for  himself  or  friends ;  and  third,  all  who  are 
personally  interested,  and  feel  that  the  Holy  Spirit  is 
urging  them  to  a  decision  for  Jesus  Christ. 

When  the  meeting  is  held  in  a  room  contiguous  to 
the  main  auditorium,  arrange  with  the  organist  and 
two  or  three  singers  to  open  the  after  meeting,  just  as 
soon  as  the  preaching  service  closes,  with  some  familiar, 
heart-stirring  hymn.  The  singing  will  do  much  toward 
drawing  the  people  in.  This  plan  presumes  that  the 
congregation  will  largely  pass  to  the  second  service. 
Another  simple  way  is  to  ask  all  who  will  to  pass  into 
the  after-meeting  room  during  the  singing  of  the  last 
hymn,  it  being  understood  that  the  benediction  will  be 
pronounced  for  those  who  cannot  stay  to  the  after 
service.  A  familiar  hymn  is  then  announced.  If  but 
few  pass  out,  it  will  be  well  to  stop  at  the  close  of  the 
first  verse,  and  again  urge  people  to  pass  into  the 
105 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

meeting  while  the  hymn  is  being  sung,  but  adding, 
"  If  you  prefer  to  wait  here  for  the  benediction,  you, 
of  course,  are  privileged  to  do  so." 

There  is  no  difficulty  in  getting  the  people  to  attend 
the  after  meeting.  It  is  one  of  the  sweetest  and  most 
helpful  services  of  the  day  when  wisely  conducted,  — 
and  to  this  end  the  leader  needs  well  to  pray  for  the 
controlling  and  guiding  presence  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
Many  an  after  meeting  has  been  shorn  of  blessing  for 
the  want  of  prayerful  preparation.  Much  depends 
upon  the  leader.  He  may  open  the  meeting,  after  the 
singing  of  a  hymn  or  two,  by  some  single  heart  thought, 
or  by  prayer,  or  illustration,  or  "exhortation,"  for 
which  the  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills  says,  "  a  wise  preacher 
has  kept  one  of  his  best  illustrations  or  strongest  en- 
treaties." The  leader  should  especially  remember  that 
this  is  no  place  for  a  talk  or  address,  not  even  a  short 
talk.  The  leader,  as  all  others,  should  be  brief  in 
what  he  says.  Many  an  after  meeting  has  been  talked 
to  death. 

Great  care  should  be  exercised  in  the  selection  of 
hymns.  Under  no  circumstances  should  new  ones  be 
selected.  So  far  as  possible  the  hymns  should  be 
appropriate  and  familiar,  although  it  is  better  to  sac- 
rifice appropriateness  to  familiarity.  There  is  little 
time  for  music  in  the  after  service,  but  there  should  be 
a  hymn  or  two,  or  a  stanza  from  each  of  two  or  three 
hymns.  The  singing  may  be  varied  by  asking  the  women 
to  sing  the  verse  and  all  to  come  in  on  the  chorus .  Again , 
if  a  good  soloist  is  present,  it  can  be  made  effective  to 
have  the  soloist  sing  the  lines  and  all  join  in  the  singing 
of  the  refrain  and  chorus.  Repeating  the  singing  of 
the  chorus  is  always  spiritually  helpful  and  suggestive. 
The  meaning  is  emphasized  by  sometimes  reading  the 
verse  in  concert  before  singing  it.      Most  effective 

106 


THE  AFTER  MEETING. 

appeals  can  be  made  at  times  between  the  singing  of 
the  verses  of  a  hymn. 

A  common  way  of  conducting  the  after  service  is  to 
say  that  the  meeting  is  open  for  testimony,  conference, 
and  prayer,  and  invite  all  to  take  part,  as  moved  to  do 
so  by  the  Holy  Spirit.  To  relate  occasionally  the  cir- 
cumstances which  suggested  the  waiting  of  a  hymn,  or 
to  give  some  experience  or  conversion  connected  with 
a  hymn,  is  always  helpful  and  of  interest.  Should  any 
one  make  request  for  prayer,  when  the  thought  of  the 
meeting  has  been  on  other  lines,  it  is  well,  usually,  to 
call  on  some  one  immediately  to  pray  for  that  partic- 
ular case. 

The  after  meeting,  at  other  times,  may  be  held 
especially  for  the  spiritual  quickening  of  Christians. 
Opportunity  is  then  given  for  confession  of  failures 
and  shortcomings,  by  word  or  by  rising.  Prayers, 
of  course,  will  follow.  It  is  helpful  at  the  close  of  a 
service  to  take  some  consecration  hymn,  like  that  of 
Frances  Ridley  Havergal,  "Take  my  life  and  let  it 
be,"  and  urge  all  who  desire  to  make  the  hymn  the 
prayer  of  their  hearts  to  sing. 

A  bright  and  helpful  feature  of  any  meeting  is  the 
reciting  in  concert  of  some  verse  of  Scripture.  Silent 
prayer,  too,  is  always  solemnly  impressive.  This, 
varied  by  short  sentence  prayers,  can  be  used  with 
frequency  and  helpfulness  in  any  after  meeting. 
Until  the  people  come  to  understand  that  prayers  are 
only  sentence  prayers,  it  may  be  well  to  arrange  pre- 
viously with  a  number  of  younger  and  older  people 
for  them.  Sentence  prayers  encourage  many  to  take 
part  who  would  otherwise  not  do  so.  All  heads  are 
bowed,  no  one  is  conspicuous,  a  sentence  does  not 
appear  to  be  a  large  effort ;  and  so  the  people  gladly 
share  in  this  part  of  the  service,  are  helped  and  warmed 
107 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

by  so  doing,  and  others  are  awakened  and  quickened 
by  the  interest  which  seems  to  pervade  all. 

Another  way  of  leading  the  meeting  is  to  open  with 
requests  for  prayer  and  then  have  several  pray  for 
these  requests.  After  a  prayer  or  two,  an  appeal  may 
be  made  to  the  unsaved.  It  is  a  simple  way,  and 
appropriate,  to  stop  and  say,  "Now,  before  the  next 
prayer,  is  there  some  one  who  desires  to  take  Christ 
as  a  personal  Saviour,  and  by  raising  the  hand  will 
say,  '  Include  my  name  in  your  prayer,  pray  for 
me'?" 

Whether  the  appeal  be  made  briefly  at  this  time, 
or  the  after  meeting  as  a  whole  be  given  to  it,  there 
are  several  ways  of  making  openings  to  penitents  for 
confession  and  of  drawing  the  net  for  the  unsaved. 

After  short  prayers,  testimonies,  and  an  earnest 
appeal,  as  the  case  may  be,  the  penitents  may  be  urged 
to  come  forward  and  kneel  during  the  singing  of  a 
verse  of  some  hymn.  This  is  a  method  quite  common 
to  one  of  the  leading  denominations.  Another  way, 
used  by  other  denominations,  is  to  invite  those  who 
have  manifested  a  personal  interest  to  come  forward 
and  stand  in  a  circle  about  the  pastor.  At  the  con- 
clusion of  the  singing  of  the  hymn  he  joins  hands  with 
them,  and  offers  prayer. 

With  a  more  formal  people  other  plans  may  be 
necessary.  Christians  may  be  asked  to  bow  in  silent 
prayer;  then  the  leader  says  :  "  Now,  while  all  heads 
are  bowed  in  prayer,  is  there  one  here  who  will  say, 
'  I  desire  to  lead  a  Christian  life,  pray  for  me '  ?  —  raise 
your  hand."  But  some  people  have  honest  doubts  and 
difficulties.  They  need  encouragement  to  make  some 
kind  of  a  start,  though  a  small  one.  One  of  the  lead- 
ing evangelists  of  to-day  frequently  gives  an  invitation 
as  follows :  "  How  many  of  you  will  say,  '  I  am  willing 

108 


THE  AFTER  MEETING. 

to  be  made  willing  to  lead  a  Christian  life '  ?  —  will  you 
raise  yom*  hand  ?  " 

Again  the  leader  of  the  meeting,  after  opening  by 
illustration  or  entreaty,  may  ask  all  who  are  church- 
members  to  rise ;  then  all  who  are  not  church-members 
but  are  trying  to  live  a  Christian  life ;  and  third,  all  who 
have  an  honest  desire  to  live  a  Christian  life.  This  may 
be  varied,  at  another  time,  by  first  asking  all  men  who 
are  church-members  to  rise,  then  all  women  who  are 
church-members  to  rise,  and  proceeding  as  before. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  that  the  leader  in 
making  the  appeal  should  be  warmly  sympathetic 
and  tender,  patient  and  persistent,  and  with  a  divine 
confidence  and  supreme  faith  in  God.  Such  a  minister 
will  meet  with  great  victories  where  another  would  only 
find  a  losing  cause. 

But  the  results  of  the  appeal  should  be  gathered  into 
real  and  tangible  form.  The  names  and  addresses  of  the 
inquirers  should  be  obtained,  that  they  may  be  followed 
up  promptly  and  helped  as  there  may  be  need.  For  this 
purpose  the  following  card  may  be  passed  by  ushers : 


189.. 

1  desire  henceforth  to  lead  a  Christian  life. 

Namey 

Address, 

Street  and  No., 

Church  Preference, 


The  ushers,  men  capable  of  doing  personal  work, 
should  be  on  the  lookout  for  all  who  in  any  way 
manifest  personal  interest.  There  too  should  be  a 
number  of  personal  helpers,  —  the  wisest  men  and 
women  of  the  congregation.  The  above  card  is  that 
used  by  the  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills.  In  speaking  of  this 
109 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

card,  the  evangelist  in  the  "  Independent"  for  March 
14,  1895,  said:  "I  do  not  think  it  well  to  print  a 
theological  formula  on  the  card,  nor  to  make  its 
expression  more  positive  in  determination.  The  reason 
for  this  is  that  while  this  simple  card  will  be  very 
helpful  in  aiding  those  who  are  clearly  decided,  and 
are  ready  to  '  subscribe  with  their  hands  to  be  the 
Lord's,'  it  will  also  develop  interest  in  those  who  are 
not  theologically  educated,  and  will  give  to  you  the 
addresses  of  those  who  are  somewhat  impressed,  but 
who  might  not  be  sufficiently  interested  to  sign  a  state- 
ment of  a  more  unequivocally  decided  expression. 
The  helpers  should  write  on  the  back  of  each  card 
some  little  statement  about  the  individual  signing  it, 
such  as,  '  Young  man,  very  much  in  earnest,'  or,  '  A 
middle-aged  woman,  almost  but  not  quite  persuaded.' 
This  will  be  very  helpful  in  assigning  proper  people 
to  follow  up  these  inquirers  later." 

The  last  thing  to  be  remembered  by  the  leader  of 
the  after  meeting  is  to  close  on  time.  Do  not  pro- 
long the  meeting.  The  preaching  service  should  close 
promptly,  and  sufficiently  early  to  encourage  attend- 
ance upon  the  after  service,  and  the  closing  time  of 
this  meeting  should  be  guarded  with  jealous  care.  It 
is  better  to  send  the  people  away  hungry,  and  when 
the  meeting  is  at  its  height,  that  they  may  desire  to 
come  again.  At  this  last  service  people  are  tired 
from  attendance  upon  the  services  of  the  day,  —  more 
so  than  they  usually  realize,  —  and  unduly  adding  to 
the  service,  even  by  two  or  three  minutes,  may  make 
the  after  meeting  a  burden  rather  than  a  mount  of 
privilege. 

It  is  the  opinion  of  some  pastors  that  to  hold  the 
after  meeting  for  three  or  four  weeks  and  then  to 
drop  it  for  a  similar  period  increases  its  attractiveness. 
110 


THE  PLEASANT   SUNDAY  AFTERNOON. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

THE   PLEASA.NT   SUNDAY   AFTERNOON. 

After  hearing  so  much  of  the  estrangement  of  work- 
ing-men from  the  church,  it  is  refreshing  and  encourag- 
ing to  learn  of  successful  efforts  in  bringing  them 
within  the  fellowship  of  the  church.  And  this  has  been 
the  result  of  that  movement  known  as  the  "Pleasant 
Sunday  Afternoon." 

That  working-men  have  not  attended  church  has, 
I  believe,  been  more  from  failure  of  adaptation  of 
method  to  condition  than  from  the  want  of  heart 
welcome  on  the  part  of  the  church.  Sunday  morning 
the  working-man  has  chosen  for  rest.  At  other  hours 
of  the  Sabbath,  the  concert,  amusement  hall,  beer- 
garden,  and  the  socialist  or  the  labor  agitator  have  re- 
currently claimed  his  attention.  The  counter-attrac- 
tions to  the  church  are  always  strong. 

To  provide  an  elevating  hour  for  laboring-men,  with 
sufficient  attractiveness  to  draw  them  in,  to  win  their 
hearts  by  these  means  to  Christ,  is  the  object  of  the 
Pleasant  Sunday  Afternoon.  The  movement  which 
bears  this  name  was  started  in  England  about  four 
years  ago. 

The  character  of  the  meeting  is  indicated  by  its 
name.  It  is  simply  a  very  bright  gospel  service,  with 
high-class  instrumental  and  chorus  music,  solo  singing, 
and  a  talk  which  "  deals  directly  with  gospel  topics." 
The  following  are  two  sample  programmes :  — 

lU 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 


1.  3.30  Hymn. 

2.  3.35  Prayer. 

3.  3.38  Instrumental  Music. 

4.  3.43  Reading  Scriptures. 

5.  3.-15  Hymn  Solo. 

G.  3.50  Instrumental  Music. 

7.  3.53  Hj-mn. 

8.  3.58  Address. 

!).  4.20  Instrumental  Music. 

10.  4.25  Hymn. 

11.  4.30  Benediction. 


1.  3.30  Hymn. 

2.  3.35  Reading  Scriptures. 

3.  3.38  Anthem,  or  hymn,  with  chorus. 

4.  3.43  Prayer  and  Lord's  Prayer. 

5.  3.45  The' First  Solo. 

6.  3.50  Notices  by  Secretary. 

7.  3.53  The  Chairman. 

8.  4       Hymn. 

9.  4.05  Speaker  for  afternoon. 

10.  4.25  Second  Solo. 

11.  4.30  Exhortation  to  sign  Pledge. 

12.  4.35  Short  Prayer. 


The  music  is  always  in  charge  of  a  director  who  is 
a  thorough  Christian,  so  that  the  choice  of  pieces  may 
safely  be  left  entirely  to  him.  He,  too,  is  one  who 
can  gather  musical  helpers  around  him,  those  who  will 
not  fail  to  appear  on  Sunday  and  who  will  give  time  to 
practice  during  the  week.  There  is  usually  an  orches- 
tra or  band,  which  gives  instrumental  selections  of  a 
sacred  character,  and  also  plays  the  accompaniment  to 
the  hymns.  Sometimes  the  music  is  rendered  by  a 
prize  choir  consisting  of  men  who  have  been  especially 
trained,  and  they  lead  in  the  singing  or  give  special 
selections. 

The  address  for  the  afternoon  is  a  matter  of  deep 
moment.  Platitudes  and  religious  cant  will  not  suc- 
ceed here,  though  they  are  sometimes  tolerated  in 
churches.  What  the  men  demand  is  a  "  bright,  broth- 
erly talk  on  things  spiritual."  Different  speakers  are 
obtained  for  different  Sabbath  afternoons.  Represen- 
tatives of  the  various  professions,  business  men,  and 
other  available  laymen  who  are  fairly  good  speakers  are 
drawn  on  for  this  service.  The  members  enjoy  seeing 
new  faces  and  hearing  new  voices.  This  plan  is  adopted 
by  so  gifted  a  preacher  as  the  Rev.  F.  B.  Meyer,  B.A., 
pastor  of  Christ's  Church,  London,  who  as  president 
of  his  Pleasant  Sunday  Afternoon  presides  at  all  meet- 

112 


THE  PLEASANT  SUNDAY  AFTERNOON. 

ings.  And  this  is  the  usual  custom :  different  speakers, 
but  the  president  to  preside  always.  Here,  as  in  other 
departments  of  Christian  work,  success  depends  in  a 
measure  on  the  personality  of  the  leader.  He  should 
be  a  man  of  strong  character,  popular  and  winning, 
bent  on  saving  souls,  and  "  able  to  fill  the  gap  on 
every  emergency  and  to  pull  the  meeting  through  if 
the  speaker  fail  or  the  address  be  unfortunate."  The 
time  for  the  address  is  limited  to  twenty  minutes,  and 
is,  as  are  all  the  other  exercises,  strictly  confined  to 
the  time  allotted  to  it.  This  is  very  satisfactory  to 
the  men,  and  prerents  all  dragging  and  dulness. 

The  Rev.  F.  B.  Meyer  says,  at  the  first  meeting  of 
his  Pleasant  Sunday  Afternoon  he  determined  that 
five  committees  were  necessary  :  ''  Visitation,  es- 
pecially of  the  sick ;  the  promotion  of  teetotalism ;  of 
stewards;  and  markers;  and  benefit  societies."^  He 
then  pointed  out  certain  parts  of  the  hall  where  those 
interested  in  each  should  gather.  He  says:  "The 
whole  group  of  men  immediately  broke  up  into  five 
large  groups,  each  making  for  his  own  special  hobby, 
and  found  himself  surrounded  by  those  like-minded. 
Each  group  then  elected  their  chairman  and  secretary, 
in  which  selection  I  confess  to  have  had  a  great  deal 
to  do,  as  the  men  were  strange  to  one  another  and  I 
was  very  anxious  that  suitable  ones  should  be  chosen 
at  the  outset.  These  two  from  each  group,  together 
with  myself,  a  few  Vice-Presidents,  and  the  Treasurer 
and  Secretary  of  the  society,  formed  a  first  Council. 
These  five  groups  dwindled  as  time  went  on,  but  the 
residuum  became  the  committee  in  each  case,  with 
power  to  add  to  its  number  and  with  full  warrant*  to 
carry  forward  its  own  work,  subject  to  the  general 
approval  of  the  Council. "  ^  Mr.  Meyer  has  two 
1  Christian  Treasury,  February,  1895,  p.  37.  ^  jbid. 

8  113 


MODERN  METHODS  IN   CHUllCH  WORK. 

corners  in  the  church  which  are  respectively  named 
the  Teetotal  and  Consecration  corner.  Those  who 
want  to  sign  the  pledge  are  invited  to  one,  whilst  those 
who  are  willing  to  help  in  any  special  work  or  desire 
to  become  Christians  are  exhorted  to  the  other.^ 
As  the  men  go  out  after  the  Sunday  afternoon 
meeting,  they  put  contributions  into  boxes  for  the 
Benevolent  Fund,  which  is  administered  by  a  special 
committee  and  devoted  to  the  relief  of  the  needy  and 
the  sick  in  the  brotherhood. 

All  who  become  members  of  the  Pleasant  Sunday 
Afternoon  subscribe  an  English  penny  a  Sunday;  it 
has  been  suggested  that  in  America  probably  a 
nickel  would  be  best.  This  is  put  into  the  Book 
Fund.  At  the  end  of  the  quarter  this  money  is  spent 
in  books  to  be  given  as  prizes  to  those  who  make  a 
good  record  in  attendance.  Those  who  are  present 
thirteen  Sundays  get  a  first  prize;  those  who  are 
present  ten  or  more  Sundays,  a  second  prize.  As  only 
the  money  subscribed  is  spent  in  this  way,  the  value  of 
the  prizes  varies  according  to  the  money  in  the  fund 
and  the  number  who  win  prizes.  The  books  are 
bought  at  a  low  price  from  some  bookseller  interested 
iu  the  movement,  and  are  a  great  incentive  to  regular 
attendance.  The  prizes  are  distributed  at  some  week- 
day gathering,  the  next  week  after  the  quarter  ends, 
by  some  influential  lady.  The  men  are  asked  to  bring 
both  their  men  and  women  friends  to  this  entertain- 
ment, and  the  new  men  who  come  are  urged  to  join 
at  once,  so  as  to  begin  the  quarter  with  the  others. 
The  sight  of  the  book  prizes  and  the  pleasant  gather- 
ing" induces  many  of  the  visitors  to  join  the  society. 
A  part  of  the  Pleasant  Sunday  Afternoon  plan  is  to 
have  a   Registrar  to   every   hundred   members.     The 

1  Christian  Treasury,  April,  1895,  p.  90. 


THE  PLEASANT  SUNDAY  AFTERNOON. 

Registrars  sit  in  the  vestibule  at  little  tables,  each 
with  a  rubber  stamp,  prepared  to  stamp  the  cards 
of  members  and  also  the  attendance  sheet  which  is 
before  them,  and  to  receive  the  pennies  of  those  who 
are  members  of  the  Book  Club.  This  record  enables 
the  Visitation  Committee  to  tell  who  is  not  present; 
and  if  a  member  is  absent  without  explanation  for  two 
weeks,  he  is  visited  with  a  view  of  seeing  what 
brotherly  kindness  can  do  for  him.  It  is  from  this 
record  that  the  list  of  those  who  are  entitled  to  prizes 
is  made  up.  Certain  exempt  classes,  as  local  preachers, 
railroad  men,  postmen,  and  policemen  when  on  duty, 
are  allowed  to  send  their  penny  for  registration.  In 
any  other  case  that  has  special  features,  the  Council  de- 
cides as  to  what  allowance  shall  be  made.  In  fact,  the 
men  are  made  to  feel  in  every  way  that  it  is  their  meeting. 
The  Council  is  consulted  as  to  the  speaker,  and  about 
any  other  matter  that  affects  the  welfare  of  the  Club. 

Some  Pleasant  Sunday  Afternoon  Societies  conduct 
various  other  lines  of  work  during  the  week  and  year,  — 
educational  classes,  an  ambulance  corps,  a  band  or 
singing  practice,  annual  excursions,  walks  and  teas 
on  holidays,  a  Benefit  Society,  a  Working-Men's 
Institute,  a  midweek  prayer  meeting,  and  a  men's 
Bible-class  on  Sunday. 

Two  things  have  been  emphasized  in  this  move- 
ment. The  first  is  that  the  work  shall  be  absolutely 
self-supporting.  The  men  must  raise  their  own  funds, 
if  money  is  needed. 

The  other  principle  emphasized  is  that  "  the  first  and 
last  object  of  the  P.  S.  A.  is  to  win  working-men  for 
Christ." 

The  success  of  this  institution  is  unquestioned.  In 
Hanley,  England,  there  is  a  branch  numbering  1,680,  of 
whom  not  more  than  three  hundred  were  found  in  any 

115 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 


other  place  of  worship  when  they  joined.  At  Liverpool, 
St.  George's  Chapel,  Congregational,  there  is  a  branch 
of  between  three  thousand  and  four  thousand  members.^ 
A  work  similar  to  this  was  begun  in  1887  by  the 
Baptist  Church  which  worshipped  in  Tremont  Temple, 
Boston,  Mass.,  until  the  work  was  arrested  by  fire  in 
1893.  This  service,  however,  was  open  both  to  men  and 
women.  There  was  an  orchestra  of  twelve  pieces,  but 
no  chorus  except  the  great  congregation.  At  every 
service  solos,  quartettes,  and  so  forth  were  given.  It 
was  customary  to  have  an  after  meeting,  and  in  the 
fifth  year  of  the  movement  as  many  as  491  rose  for 
prayers  during  the  year.  The  meetings  were  also 
very  helpful  to  the  church.  The  evening  services 
were  better  attended,  and  large  numbers  were  brought 
into  the  Sunday-school.  In  addition  to  the  spiritual 
results  mentioned,  that  the  movement  was  satisfactory 
from  a  financial  standpoint  the  following  figures  will 
show :  — 


Receipts. 

Expenses. 

Net  Gain. 

1888 

$  820.09 

$  550.35 

$  263.74 

1889 

1977.45 

1012.36 

9G5.09 

1890 

2141.  C3 

791.37 

1350.26 

1891 

22G9.G7 

1007. S7 

1361.80 

1893 

2923.23 

1017.78 

1905.45 

The  Reformed  Church  of  Harlem,  New  York,  has 
an  afternoon  Bible-class  which  it  calls  the  Pleasant 
Sunday  Afternoon.  This  organization  meets  separately 
at  the  time  of  the  Sunday-school,  has  appropriate 
opening  exercises,  and  then  an  exposition  of  the  lesson 

1  Rev.  H.  N.  Kinney,  Report  of  Christian  Workers'  Serenth 
Convention,  Boston,  1892,  p.  137. 
116 


THE  PLEASAJ^T  SUNDAY  AFTERNOON. 

of  the  day.  It  is  attended  by  both  men  and  women, 
and  enrols  large  numbers  of  young  people  and  also 
parents  who  bring  their  children  to  Sunday-school. 
It  has  several  social  features,  among  which  are  social 
meetings  during  the  year,  an  annual  excursion,  and 
other  gatherings  which  increase  the  acquaintance  and 
good-fellowship  of  the  members. 

In  the  Central  Metropolitan  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  New  York,  there  is  an  organization  of  this 
kind  called  the  Pleasant  Hour  Bible  Class.  It  is  sim- 
ilar to  the  one  in  Harlem,  but  holds  its  sessions 
immediately  after  the  Sunday-school  in  the  afternoon, 
and  studies  the  lesson  for  the  following  Sunday. 
This  is  done  for  the  benefit  of  Sunday-school  teachers. 
This  class  has  been  in  existence  for  three  years,  and 
has  increased  from  an  attendance  of  eleven  at  its 
first  meeting  to  an  average  attendance  of  about  five 
hundred.  The  entire  collection  goes  to  the  church 
funds,  as  there  are  no  expenses.  The  exercises  are 
opened  by  a  varied  musical  programme  which  is  fur- 
nished voluntarily  by  the  musical  friends  of  the 
movement,  and  consists  of  both  instrumental  and  vo- 
cal selections.  This  is  followed  by  a  short  exposition 
of  the  lesson,  studying  directly  from  the  Bible.  Then 
there  are  ten  minutes  allowed  for  questions  on  the  lesson 
only.  On  Review  Sunday  the  class  studies  the  subject 
of  temperance.  There  is  an  evangelistic  side  to  the 
work,  and  there  are  professed  conversions  every  Sunday. 

Thus  we  see  that  on  both  sides  of  the  sea  new  efforts 
have  been  made  to  improve  the  hours  of  the  Sabbath 
afternoon.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  movement  will 
be  more  and  more  general,  until  the  churches  shall  vie 
with  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  in  the 
efforts  they  make  to  "redeem  the  time"  in  these 
fruitful  hours  of  the  week. 
117 


MODERN  METHODS  IN   CHURCH   WORK. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

YOUNG  people's   SOCIETIES. 

In  considering  the  subject  of  Young  People's  Socie- 
ties, it  is  not  necessary  to  mention  their  mode  of  work- 
ing. Many  and  valuable  works  have  been  written, 
abounding  in  accounts  of  work  already  done,  and 
helpful  suggestions  for  future  effort  in  this  great 
field  of  Christian  usefulness. 

The  movement  comprehensively  known  as  the  Young 
People's  Society  is  the  miracle  of  modern  times. 
What  has  been  done  in  the  past  by  this  powerful  engine 
for  good,  what  is  being  done  by  it,  fills  us  with  won- 
der and  awe.  What  will  be  accomplished  by  it  in  the 
future  opens  up  a  vista  so  far-reaching,  an  avenue 
so  crossed  and  intersected  with  branching  paths  to 
every  field  of  Christian  duty,  that  imagination  cannot 
follow.  What  will  be  the  effect  on  the  Church  when 
all  these  trained  workers  assume  the  full  responsibility 
of  mature  manhood  and  womanhood?  How  cordial- 
ity and  hospitality  will  reign  in  the  churches  when 
the  social  committees  of  the  present  become  the  owners 
of  homes  and  possessors  of  influence  and  ability  to 
welcome  in  a  practical  way  the  stranger  of  the  future ! 
How  missions  will  thrive  when  the  cultivated  intelli- 
gence of  men  and  women  trained  from  youth  in  the 
spirit  of  giving  and  going  becomes  the  ruling  genius 
of  the  churches!  How  the  prayer  meetings  of  the 
future  will  differ  from  those  of  the  present,  when  free- 

118 


YOUNG  PEOPLE'S   SOCIETIES. 

dom  of  speech,  enthusiasm  of  endeavor,  and  a  high 
spirit  of  consecration  take  the  place  of  the  formalism 
and  half-heartedness  that  too  often  characterize  the 
midweek  meeting  of  to-day!  How  the  Church  will 
grow  in  numbers  and  efficiency  when  loving  hands  are 
stretched  out  to  gather  souls  into  the  kingdom,  and 
the  look-out  spirit  prevails  with  all  the  Church,  to  keep 
and  guard  and  cherish  those  who  come  into  her 
sheltering  fold ! 

The  Young  People's  movement  is  carried  on  by  the 
undenominational  organization,  the  Young  People's 
Society  of  Christian  Endeavor,^  the  Epworth  League  ^ 
of  the  Methodist  Church,  the  Baptist  Young  People's 
Union, ^  and  other  denominational  societies.  The 
membership  of  the  Christian  Endeavor  Society  is 
about  2,500,000;  that  of  the  Epworth  League  about 
1,250,000.  In  the  Baptist  churches,  the  Young  Peo- 
ple's Union  have  about  4,000  societies,  while  there  are 
about  3,511  Baptist  Christian  Endeavor  Societies. 

A  glance  at  the  principal  committees  and  depart- 
ments of  the  three  leading  societies  shows  the  scope  of 
the  work  undertaken  by  each  respectively.  The 
Christian  Endeavor  Society  works  through  several 
committees.  The  principal  ones  are  the  Look-out, 
Devotional,  and  Social,  to  which  are  added  in  most 
cases  Temperance,  Missionary,  Sunday-school,  Visit- 
ing, Flower,  Good  Citizenship,  and  Literature.  In  the 
Epworth  League  there  are  the  following  departments : 
the  Department  of  Spiritual  Work,  of  Mercy  and  Help, 

1  Mr.  John  Willis  Baer,  Secretary,  646  Washington  Street,  Bos- 
ton, Mass. 

2  Rev.  Edwin  A.  Schell,  Secretary,  57  Washington  Street, 
Chicago,  m. 

3  Rev.  Frank  L.  Wilkins,  D.D.,  Secretary,  122  Wabash  Ave- 
nue, Chicago,  111. 

119 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

of  Literary  Work,  of  Social  Work,  of  Correspondence, 
and  of  Finance.  The  Baptist  Young  People's  Union, 
in  many  of  their  societies,  group  their  work  into  Devo- 
tional, Social,  and  Educational  Departments. 

W^ithin  these  societies  are  often  found  working 
branches  organized  to  meet  special  needs.  In  connec- 
tion with  the  Epworth  League  there  are  Reading  Cir- 
cles formed  for  the  study  of  religious  topics.  On  com- 
pletion of  a  given  series  of  readings  a  certificate  is 
given,  to  which  seals  are  attached  from  time  to  time  as 
the  prescribed  courses  of  reading  are  completed.  In 
the  Baptist  Young  People's  Union  there  are  Christian 
Culture  Courses  which  cover  in  the  main  missionary 
topics.  The  subjects  are  discussed  at  monthly  meet- 
ings called  Conquest  Meetings.  The  course  extends 
over  four  years.  At  the  close  of  each  year  an  exami- 
nation is  held  covering  the  ground  gone  over,  and  on 
completion  of  the  course  a  diploma  is  awarded.  The 
Society  of  Christian  Endeavor  in  addition  to  the  regu- 
lar work  of  the  committees  does  a  vast  amount  of  mis- 
sionary and  philanthropic  work.  Among  the  sailors 
and  light-house  keepers,  Bibles,  helpful  literature,  and 
comfort  bags  are  annually  distributed.  Some  societies 
have  opened  parlors  for  men  and  boys ;  others  do 
active  work  in  the  hotels  in  distributing  invitations  to 
the  meetings  of  the  Society  and  other  services  of  the 
church;  others  have  instituted  savings-banks;  still 
others  have  opened  newspaper  exchanges  for  the  in- 
terchange of  religious  reading.  Some  societies  band 
themselves  into  "  working  circles"  to  help  on  the  gen- 
eral work  of  the  church.  Accounts  of  different  work 
undertaken  by  the  societies  may  be  found  in  the  pages 
of  the  "  Golden  Rule,"  the  official  organ  of  the  United 
Society. 

A  book  that  gives  many  practical  suggestions  as  to 
120 


YOUNG  PEOPLE'S   SOCIETIES. 

the  methods  of  Young  People's  Societies  is  "Ways 
and  Means,"  edited  by  Rev.  F.  E.  Clark,  D.D.,  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor.  It 
fully  describes  the  organization  of  Young  People's 
Societies,  speaks  of  the  best  manner  of  conducting 
devotional,  business,  and  consecration  meetings,  and 
treats  of  the  work  of  the  committees.  It  also  gives 
many  practical  suggestions  as  to  maintaining  and 
arousing  interest  in  the  Society,  and  in  every  way  is  a 
perfect  handbook  of  information.  The  chief  value  of 
the  suggestions  lies  in  the  fact  that  they  are  experi- 
mental. Every  plan  commended  has  been  successfully 
tried  in  some  individual  society. 

An  important  factor  in  the  work  of  young  people's 
societies  is  the  monthly,  or  bi-monthly  social,  held  in 
the  parlors  or  Sabbath-school  rooms  of  the  church,  or, 
as  sometimes,  at  a  private  residence.  These  social 
gatherings  meet  the  need  of  young  people  for  a  social 
good  time,  promote  Christian  fellowship,  and  ought  to 
be  encouraged.  The  brightest  minds  should  be  placed 
upon  the  Social  Committee,  and  a  programme  of  enter- 
tainment should  be  carefully  prepared  for  each  social. 
A  book  invaluable  for  its  descriptions  of  games  and 
ways  of  entertainment  for  socials  is  "  Social  Even- 
ings," by  Amos  R.  Wells. 

A  great  deal  more  might  be  said  of  Young  People's 
Societies,  but  a  knowledge  of  the  scope  of  the  methods 
of  this  endeavor  for  humanity  has  already  been  widely 
disseminated  through  the  reports  of  the  great  conven- 
tions held  yearly,  and  still  more  through  the  personal 
efforts  of  individual  members  of  this  vast  body  of 
workers  "  for  Christ  and  the  Chnrch." 


121 


MODERN  METHODS  IN   CHURCH  WORK. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE   PRAYER  MEETING. 

Can  anything  new  and  helpful  be  said  in  the  interest 
of  the  midweek  meeting  ?  Probably  no  one  church  ser- 
vice has  received  so  large  attention  from  writers  and 
workers  as  the  weekly  prayer  meeting.  Yet  all  has  not 
been  said.  Certainly,  the  combined  experiences  of  ear- 
nest and  thoughtful  pastors  each  year  ought  to  be  fruit- 
ful of  many  helpful  suggestions  for  the  weekly  prayer 
meeting.  This  does  not  imply  that  we  shall  outgrow 
all  the  old  ideas  of  the  prayer  meeting,  or  all  the  old 
ways  of  working.  The  idea,  for  instance,  that  the 
prayer  meeting  is  the  family  gathering  of  the  church  is 
constantly  emphasized,  and  is  a  principle  that  must 
always  prevail.  When,  as  a  church,  we  realize  that 
ideal,  our  prayer  meetings  will  be  shorn  of  stiffness, 
long  stereotyped  prayers,  and  stilted  formal  addresses ; 
rather  there  will  be  the  brief,  simply  worded  petition, 
the  tender  or  practical  remarks,  or  the  bit  of  helpful 
experience  or  counsel.  But  in  addition  to  holding 
"  fast  that  which  is  good,"  in  conducting  our  midweek 
service,  we  welcome  all  that  is  helpful,  though  new. 

The  Rev.  J.  M.  Patterson,  pastor  of  the  Westmin- 
ster Presbyterian  Church  of  Detroit,  Mich.,  issues  a 
little  card  to  his  people,  in  which  he  first  urges  their 
prompt  and  regular  attendance  on  the  prayer  meeting, 
and  asks  the  following  questions,  after  each  of  which 
there  is  left  a  space  for  reply:  — 

122 


THE  PRAYER  MEETING. 

1.  May  I  regard  you  as  an  attendant  upon  one  or  both  of 
the  weekly  prayer  meetings  (General  and  Young  People's) 
(if  but  one  specify  it),  and  place  youi'  name  on  the  list  of 
such  which  at  present  I  am  making  out  ? 

2.  May  I  occasionally  call  upon  you  to  read  passages 
from  the  Bible? 

3.  May  I  occasionally  call  upon  you  to  speak  in  prayer 
meeting  ? 

4.  May  I  occasionally  call  upon  you  to  offer  prayer  in 
public  ? 

These  cards  are  returned  to  the  pastor,  and  from 
them  he  gathers  helpful  ideas  about  his  prayer-meeting 
force,  if  one  may  so  put  it. 

The  Rev.  J.  M.  Meeker,  D.D.,  pastor  of  St.  Paul's 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Cincinnati,  O. ,  circulates 
a  pledge  card  embracing  the  following  points  :  — 

1 .  I  wiU  pray  for  the  meeting  every  Wednesday  evening. 

2.  I  will  attend  the  prayer  meeting  at  least  twice  each 
month  if  possible. 

3.  I  will  occupy  a  seat  nearest  the  pulpit. 

4.  I  will,  if  opportunity  is  given,  take  a  brief  part  in  the 
service. 

5.  I  will  tell  others  of  our  prayer  meeting  and  invite 
them  to  attend. 

This  simple  system  in  St.  Paul's  Church  has  proven 
very  helpful.  Some  of  the  features  of  the  above  plans 
could,  if  desired,  easily  be  incorporated  in  the  enlist- 
ment card  mentioned  in  Chapter  V. 

The  Rev.  Frank  Russell,  D.D.,  pastor  of  Bridge- 
port, Conn.,  Congregational  Church,  addresses  a  cir- 
cular letter  to  his  people  urging  them  to  come  with 
special  preparation,  also  to  come  early  and  occupy 
front  seats  on  their  own  part,  and  to  encourage  the 
attendance  of  others.  Another  pastor,  in  a  similar  let- 
ter, which,  however,  is  more  personal,  as  it  is  addressed 
123 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

to  but  one  or  two  at  a  time,  invites  the  person  to  whom 
the  letter  is  sent  to  take  part  in  the  meeting  without 
being  called  upon,  tells  him  that  a  similar  request  has 
been  made  of  others,  and  that  the  prayer  or  remarks 
may  be  brief,  and  that  too  close  adherence  to  the 
scheduled  subject  is  not  necessary. 

The  Rev.  Abbott  E.  Kittridge,  D.D.,  pastor  of  the 
Madison  Avenue  Reformed  Church,  New  York,  has  a 
very  large  and  interesting  prayer  meeting.  He  has 
some  original  methods.  For  instance,  there  is  no 
instrumental  accompaniment  to  the  hymns,  but  they 
are  started  by  the  pastor  himself,  while  the  congrega- 
tion is  turning  to  the  hymn  announced.  In  advance  of 
every  meeting  the  pastor  speaks  privately  to  two  or 
three  members  and  obtains  their  promise  to  speak  on 
the  topic  of  the  evening.  It  is  the  practice  of  Dr.  Kit- 
tridge to  merely  open  the  meeting  without  extended 
remarks  or  by  giving  only  a  brief  exposition  of  Scrip- 
ture. At  the  close  of  the  service  he  sums  up  the 
points  that  have  been  brought  out,  and  makes  the  con- 
cluding remarks. 

The  Rev.  Washington  Gladden,  D.D.,  tells  of  a 
pastor  who  arranges  the  theme  of  the  meeting  under 
several  heads,  putting  the  subdivisions  into  the  form 
of  questions.  He  then  selects  answers  from  the  Bible 
and  distributes  them  among  the  people.  The  pastor, 
having  asked  the  question  and  received  the  answer, 
briefly  comments  on  it,  proceeds  to  the  next  question, 
and  the  meeting  is  thus  pleasantly  opened.^ 

The  Rev.  H.  M.  Scudder,  D.D.,  makes  the  follow- 
ing suggestions  :  that  the  pastor  make  several  lists,  in- 
cluding all  the  persons  in  the  church  who  can  speak 
and  pray  in  public ;  that  he  select  a  leader  from  each 
list  and  ask  him  with  his  fellow-members  on  the  list  to 
1  Parish  Problems,  p.  265. 
124 


THE  PRAYER  MEETING. 

be   responsible   for   one  meeting.      This   will   secure 
several  participants  at  every  meeting.^ 

A  somewhat  simpler  method,  and  one  that  has  proven 
very  successful  in  encouraging  the  attendants  to  take 
part  in  the  meeting,  is  to  give  out  slips  of  paper  bear- 
ing Scripture  references  and  to  ask  the  persons  to 
whom  they  are  given  to  read  the  passage  (without  be- 
ing called  on),  and  if  they  will,  to  comment  on  the  pas- 
sage in  its  relation  to  the  subject  of  the  evening. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  S.  Hastings,  D.D.,  President  of 
Union  Theological  Seminary,  when  pastor  of  the  West 
Presbyterian  Church,  New  York,  had  most  successful 
and  largely  attended  prayer  meetings.  Among  other 
features.  Dr.  Hastings  occasionally  had  Question  Box 
Meetings.  The  meetings  were  always  announced  in 
advance,  and  the  congregation  urged  to  hand  in  ques- 
tions ;  it  being  understood  that  all  questions  must 
reach  the  pastor  before  the  day  of  the  service.  To 
encourage  personal  interest  in  the  service,  the  pastor, 
as  questions  were  asked  of  him  when  making  pastoral 
calls  or  at  other  times,  frequently  said,  "  Won't  you 
please  hand  in  this  question  in  writing  for  our  Question 
Box  Meeting?  " 

In  the  Metropolitan  Methodist  Temple,  New  York, 
Rev.  S.  P.  Cadman,  pastor,  the  people  are  divided  into 
prayer  cu'cles,  which  meet  for  prayer  and  testimony  in 
the  class  rooms  before  the  regular  prayer  meeting. 
Afterwards,  they  assemble  in  the  main  room  for  a 
twenty-minute  exposition  of  the  Scripture. 

The  Rev.  Elijah  Horr,  D.D.,  pastor  of  the  Piedmont 
Congregational  Church  of  Worcester,  Mass.,  scores  a 
very  good  point  when  he  invites  people  "  to  come  in  at 
any  time  during  the  meeting."  He  adds  that  "  no  one 
is  asked  to  take  any  part.  All  are  invited  to  do  so,  but 
1  Dr.  Gladden's  Parish  Problems,  p.  256. 
1.25 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

all  know  that  there  will  be  no  constraint  or  restraint." 
This  last  plan  emphasizes  the  family  idea.  The  inti- 
mate fellowship  that  appreciates  the  fact  that  Mr.  A. 
has  to  be  at  the  store  late  and  cannot  get  to  prayer 
meeting  at  the  beginning,  or  that  Mrs.  B.  must  get  the 
children  settled  for  the  night  before  she  can  come,  and 
that  makes  it  possible  for  these  and  other  tired  people 
to  slip  into  their  seats  at  any  time  during  the  service 
without  shame  or  confusion,  is  one  of  the  things  that 
makes  the  prayer  meeting  the  home  gathering-place  of 
the  church.  Then  the  informal  speech  without  being 
called  upon  is  suggestive  of  the  home  life. 

Music  is  one  of  the  best  aids  to  make  the  prayer 
meeting  attractive,  but  it  is  too  much  neglected  even  in 
those  churches  which  have  excellent  music  at  other 
services.  The  minister  is  afraid  to  give  out  an  un- 
familiar hymn,  and  so  the  old  hymns  are  droned  out 
month  after  month.  To  improve  the  music,  it  may  be 
well  to  get  a  precentor  and  occasionally  have  the  meet- 
ing convene  a  little  earlier  and  the  time  be  devoted  to 
singing  new,  bright  tunes.  It  will  increase  the  attend- 
ance and  put  new  life  into  the  service. 

The  prayer-meeting  topic  is  also  a  matter  for 
thought.  Groups  of  subjects  unfolding  different 
phases  of  the  same  theme  may  be  studied  on  successive 
evenings,  or  consecutive  portions  of  the  Bible  may  be 
subjects  for  study.  Whatever  the  plan,  it  is  always 
best  to  have  the  topic  of  the  evening  and  the  Scripture 
reference  understood  in  advance.  In  the  preparation 
of  these  topics,  a  variety  may  be  introduced  by  invit- 
ing the  congregation  to  hand  in  subjects  that  they 
would  like  to  have  taken  under  prayerful  consideration. 
From  the  topics  handed  in,  the  pastor  selects  the  list 
for  the  quarter,  announcing  that  it  was  impossible  to 
include  all. 

126 


THE  PRAYER  MEETING. 

In  former  times,  it  was  customary  in  several  denomi- 
nations to  devote  one  evening  in  the  month  to  a  mis- 
sionary concert,  and  it  is  a  pity  that  so  excellent  a 
practice  should  be  abandoned.  With  care  in  arran- 
ging the  programme,  with  some  special  music,  these 
evenings  may  be  made  attractive  and  most  helpful. 
Oftentimes  persons  who  will  not  ordinarily  take  part  in 
the  weekly  meeting  may  be  induced  to  do  so  by  hav- 
ing papers  assigned  to  them  on  missionary  subjects,  and 
thus  a  knowledge  of  this  great  work  spreads  among  the 
congregation,  genuine  interest  is  elicited  in  missions, 
and  new  voices  are  heard  in  the  prayer  meeting. 

The  question  of  participation  in  the  prayer  meeting 
by  both  sexes  may  seem  to  Western  readers  one  set- 
tled long  ago ;  but  it  is  still  very  seriously  believed  in 
some  Eastern  churches  that  Paul's  injunction  to  women 
to  "keep  silent"  is  to  be  literally  taken.  Such 
churches  are  great  losers.  Personally,  I  believe  this  to 
be  a  form  of  that  ignorance  that  God  in  former  times 
winked  at,  but  now  coramandeth  all  men  everywhere  to 
repent  of.^  In  the  large  formal  gatherings  of  the 
church,  there  may  be  two  opinions  as  to  the  advisabil- 
ity of  woman's  voice  being  heard;  but  in  the  family 
meeting,  she  should  be  at  liberty  to  take  such  part  as 
her  conscience  dictates. 

The  practice  of  having  the  pastor  lead  the  mid- 
week meeting  seems  to  be  most  satisfactory  to  the 
majority  of  churches,  but  the  plan  of  having  it  con- 
ducted by  officers  of  the  church  and  gifted  laymen  in 
rotation  has  been  successfully  tried  in  others. 

But  whoever  leads,  whoever  takes  part,  or  whatever 

adjuncts  or  methods  be  employed,  the  prayer  meeting 

will  not  fill  up  the  measure  of  its  usefulness  unless 

it  is  the  place  where   "friend  holds  fellowship  with 

1  Acts  xvii.  30, 

127 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

friend."  In  some  churches  arrangement  is  made  for 
a  pleasant  tarrying  on  the  part  of  the  attendants. 
There  is  a  convenient  grouping  of  chairs  or  arrange- 
ment of  settees,  and  everything  possible  is  done  to 
encourage  sociability  and  to  suggest  an  informal  re- 
union at  the  close  of  the  meeting. 

There  are  other  things  that  ought  to  be  remembered 
of  the  prayer  meeting.  Though  the  suggestions  may 
not  be  new,  they  are  vitally  important.  First,  every 
prayer  meeting  should  commence  promptly  on  time, 
though  no  one  is  present  but  the  pastor,  and  should 
close  promptly  on  time.  A  careful  observation  of  this 
principle  always  encourages  attendance,  and  is  other- 
wise helpful. 

Second,  the  meeting  is  deserving  of  the  most  pains- 
taking and  prayerful  preparation  on  the  part  of  the 
pastor.  Is  this  preparation  always  given?  The 
people,  I  believe,  will  come  when  they  find  the  spirit- 
ual help  which  their  souls  crave.  Having  made  care- 
ful preparation,  another  danger  confronts  the  minister, 
—  and  one  which,  according  to  common  fame,  is  often 
yielded  to,  —  that  of  taking  up  too  much  time.  The 
meeting  then  gives  way  to  a  lecture,  and  the  nature  of 
the  service  as  a  prayer  meeting  and  as  a  people's 
meeting  is  lost  sight  of. 

Third,  the  prayer  meeting  should  be  the  place 
where  plainness  of  dress  is  the  rule,  where  there  is  no 
haste  to  go  away,  and  where  the  humblest  church- 
member  is  met  and  greeted  with  heartfelt  interest  in 
his  welfare,  where  the  story  of  trouble  is  heard  with 
.  sympathy,  and  where  the  news  of  good  fortune  awakens 
sincerest  joy.  No  formality  can  exist  where  such  feel- 
ing reigns.  The  heart  of  the  toiling  and  sorrowing 
will  then  turn  to  the  prayer  meeting  as  the  child  to  its 
mother.     No  effort  will  be  needed  to  draw  the  people 

128 


THE  PRAYER  MEETING. 

together,  and  stormy  nights  will  see  the  room  well  filled. 
Here  the  burdened  pastor  will  find  the  reward  of  his 
labor,  and  the  stranger  the  green  spot  in  all  the  arid 
week,  and  each  succeeding  gathering  will  slip  away 
into  eternity  only  to  bring  nearer  the  glad  reunion  of 
the  household  of  God. 


129 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  AVORK. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

THE   COTTAGE   PRAYER  MEETING. 

When  Peter  had  been  released  from  prison  by  the 
angel  of  the  Lord,  he  went  straight  to  a  cottage 
prayer  meeting  in  the  house  of  Mary,  the  mother 
of  John.  The  homes  of  many  Christians  have  been 
glorified  by  such  gatherings  for  prayer ;  meetings  that 
have  ever  been  a  means  of  grace.  The  informality  of 
the  gathering  appeals  to  the  heart,  and  many  of  those 
who  will  not  attend  the  regular  midweek  meeting  of 
the  church  may  be  won  to  the  neighbor's  fireside  and 
thus  be  brought  under  spiritual  influences.  There  are 
two  reasons  why  these  prayer  meetings  should  be  held  : 
first,  on  account  of  their  influence  on  the  church. 
Such  meetings  increase  the  heart  acquaintance  of  the 
church-members  with  each  other  and  with  those  whom 
they  would  reach,  and  deepen  the  common  interest  in 
the  spiritual  life  of  the  church.  Then,  by  means  of  the 
cottage  gatherings,  the  prayer  service  may  be  taken  to 
those  members  who  are  unable  to  attend  the  regular 
midweek  prayer  meeting.  There  are  in  every  congre- 
gation those  who  through  age  or  infirmity  are  unable 
to  get  to  church.  And  there  are  others  who  have  the 
care  of  invalids  and  young  children  and  consequently 
cannot  attend  the  usual  services  of  worship.  With 
many  churches  the  cottage  prayer  meetings  are  not 
held  twice  in  the  same  place,  but  are  carried  to  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  parish  in  succeeding  weeks.     Second, 

130 


THE  COTTAGE  PRAYER  MEETING. 

cottage  prayer  meetings  should  be  held  on  account  of 
the  influence  on  the  outside  world.  These  meetings 
stand  to  the  people  around  the  church  as  the  social 
settlement  does  to  the  community.  Such  meetings 
attract  attention,  and  from  them  flow  streams  of  influ- 
ence which  permeate  the  remotest  parts  of  the  commu- 
nity. A  woman  in  New  York  City  gathers  into  a 
prayer  meeting  held  weekly  at  her  home  from  thirty 
to  forty  working  men  and  women,  to  whom  the  prayer 
circle  would  otherwise  be  unknown.  She  obtains  the 
help  of  some  of  the  members  of  her  church  in  carrying 
on  the  meetings,  and  their  work  has  been  wonderfully 
blessed :  many  of  the  people  who  come  to  the  meetings 
have  been  brought  through  its  influence  into  the  fellow- 
ship of  the  church ;  others  have  been  brought  into  the 
Sunday-school  and  church  attendance.  If  such  a  meet- 
ing could  not  be  conveniently  held  continuously  in  one 
home,  it  might  be  held  for  a  month  or  three  months 
at  one  house,  and  then  for  a  like  period  in  another. 

A  similar  plan  should  be  in  operation  in  every  church 
in  addition  to  the  work  done  in  the  churches  and  mis- 
sions. Besides  the  fraternal  and  spiritual  benefits 
which  accrue  from  such  gatherings,  they  have  the 
merit  of  being  inexpensive.  When  we  read  of  the 
tremendous  average  cost  of  each  convert  in  this  coun- 
try, and  on  the  other  hand  read  the  pitiful  appeals  for 
money  and  men  from  fields  where  the  millions  have 
never  once  heard  the  Gospel  story,  we  realize  that  there 
is  something  wrong  in  our  methods,  and  that  we  ought 
by  all  means  to  do  this  thing  also  and  not  to  leave  the 
other  undone. 

Cottage  prayer  meetings  have  been  successfully  con- 
ducted for  many  years  by  the  churches  of  Oberlin,  O., 
that  centre  of  religious  activity,  where  the  life-work 
of  the  sainted  Finney  still  goes  on.     The  congrega- 

131 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

tions  of  the  principal  churches  of  Oberliii  are  divided 
into  prayer  circles  somewhat  after  the  plan  of  the 
"  classes  "  in  the  Methodist  Church.  Cottage  prayer 
meetings  are  also  being  carried  on  by  many  other 
churches  throughout  our  country. 

This  return  to  the  simple  ways  of  the  early  Church 
has  a  wonderful  hold  upon  the  heart.  It  was  the 
custom  of  the  early  Church  to  meet  for  prayer  at  the 
homes  of  the  adherents  to  the  new  faith.  The  seventy, 
as  they  went  out  two  by  two,  must  have  gathered  the 
families  to  whom  they  brought  the  message  of  life  into 
many  an  hour  of  quiet  prayer.  And  this  home  prayer 
service  was  hallowed  also  by  the  presence  and  prayers 
of  our  blessed  Lord. 


132 


OPEN-AIR  PREACHING. 


CHAPTEE  XYL 

OPEN-AIR   PREACHING. 

Open-air  preaching  is  not  a  new  thing.  It  is  as  old 
as  the  Garden  of  Eden.  Scripture  abounds  with  allu- 
sions to  open-air  preaching,  and  records  many  such  a 
sermon.  The  holy  prophets  of  old,  on  the  streets,  or 
wherever  they  found  the  people,  lifted  up  their  voices 
in  warning.  We  associate  John  the  Baptist  with 
great  sermons  and  the  open  skies  of  the  wilderness. 
There  was  the  open-air  sermon  of  Pentecost,  the  ring- 
ing open-air  messages  of  the  seventy,  and  Paul's 
address  on  Mars'  Hill.  Our  blessed  Lord  went  out 
through  the  dusty  highways  and  taught  the  crowd 
that  followed  him,  or  spoke  to  them  from  the  little 
craft  anchored  off  the  shore.  He  preached  to  the 
one  woman  at  the  well,  preached  in  the  streets  of 
Jericho,  Jerusalem,  and  Capernaum,  and  preached  the 
great  Sermon  on  the  Mount  under  the  open  skies  and 
from  the  commanding  heights  of  the  hills.  The  most 
of  his  preaching  was  out  of  doors.  Coming  down 
through  the  years,  we  find  that  some  of  the  great- 
est teachers  of  the  centuries,  John  Knox,  Roland 
Hill,  Spurgeon  and  Moody,  Whitefield  and  the  Wes- 
leys,  have  preached  in  the  open  air. 

In  England  services  have  been  carried  on  out  of 
doors  to  an  extent  that  has  never  been  undertaken 
in  this  country.  There  are  one  thousand  open-air 
preachers  in  London,  and  they  are  not  only  of  the 
Salvation  Army  and  the  City  Mission,  but  the  lead- 

133 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

ing  ministers  of  the  city,  numbering  such  men  as  the 
Bishop  of  Bedford  and  Lord  Rodstock.  St.  Mary's 
Church,  Whitechapel,  the  scene  of  so  many  murders, 
has  a  pulpit  built  into  its  outer  wall,  and  clergymen 
preach  every  Sunday  to  the  people  that  crowd  to  hear 
them  in  that  district  renowned  for  wickedness. 

The  Presbyterians  in  Loudon  have  a  committee 
devoted  to  this  special  work.  The  famous  preacher, 
Rev.  John  McNeil,  D.D.,  when  a  pastor  in  London, 
often  preached  in  the  park.  Rev.  Newman  Hall, 
D.D.,  had  a  service  in  front  of  his  church  every  Sun- 
day night  in  summer.  Rev.  Mr.  Woffendale,  a  Pres- 
byterian minister,  goes  out  with  a  company  of  young 
people  to  some  distance  from  his  church.  There  they 
pause  and  sing,  while  others  distribute  hand-bills 
containing  invitations  to  the  services;  a  few  words 
are  spoken,  and  the  company  passes  on.  Another 
minister  in  London  sends  out  his  young  men  in  dif- 
ferent directions.  They  bring  in  all  they  can  gather, 
and  go  out  again.  The  service  begins  at  half-past 
seven,  and  continues  for  two  hours  and  a  half,  and  it  is 
estimated  that  of  the  thousand  members  of  the  church 
two  thirds  were  converts  from  open-air  preaching. 

Rev.  Mr.  Stewart,  a  rector  of  London,  sends  four 
bands  of  young  men  to  occupy  different  stations. 
The  next  Sunday  they  occupy  four  others,  so  that  he 
has  the  Gospel  preached  to  every  man  in  his  parish 
during  a  month.  The  Christian  Evidence  Society 
conducts  Gospel  services  from  a  platform  erected  in 
one  of  the  parks.  Numerous  cases  are  recorded  of 
the  triumphs  of  the  Cross  and  the  silencing  of  those 
who  came  to  scoff.  ^ 

Rev.  E.  P.  Hammond  says,  "The  rule  or  law  of  the 

1  Edwin  H.  Byington,  Fifth  Convention  of  Christian  Workers, 
Hartford,  Conn.,  1890,  pp.  357-360. 

134 


ope:n^-air  preaching. 

Presbytery  of  Glasgow  is  that  every  minister  shall 
once  a  month,  at  least,  preach  in  the  open  air."  ^ 

Open-air  services  have  been  conducted  with  great 
success  in  this  country.  Rev.  Frederick  Campbell, 
pastor  of  Jefferson  Park  Presbyterian  Church,  Chicago, 
says  that  during  the  summer  of  1895  he  conducted 
outdoor  services  for  three  months  with  marked  suc- 
cess. In  each  case  an  after-service  inside  the  church 
was  held,  and  a  large  per  cent  of  the  crowd,  of  the 
very  class  he  most  wanted  to  reach,  followed  him  into 
the  meeting.  They  were  attentive,  respectful,  and 
evidently  deeply  impressed. 

The  Broome  Street  Tabernacle,  New  York,  has  an 
out-of-door  meeting,  notice  of  which  is  placed  in  the 
(jiiurch  bulletin,  and  which  is  as  permanent  as  any 
other  service  of  the  church.  This  meeting  is  usually 
held  some  distance  from  the  church.  When  the  work- 
ers at  the  meeting  return,  bringing  with  them  such  as 
are  impressed,  a  pleasant  tea  is  served  them  by  the 
ladies.  After  tea  a  prayer  meeting  is  held  in  special 
interest  of  those  who  have  asked  for  prayer  in  the  out- 
door meeting.  In  this  way  the  church  holds  together 
the  workers,  who  are  converts  from  the  class  which 
the  church  is  trying  to  reach. 

The  Fourth  Congregational  Church  of  Hartford, 
Conn.,  has  preaching  from  its  church  porch.  After 
this  service  the  people  are  invited  to  go  to  church. 
Their  attention  is  called  to  the  different  churches 
in  the  neighborhood,  and  the}^  are  assured  of  a  hearty 
welcome  from  any  of  them.  For  this  work  there  is 
a  band  of  four  pieces,  and  they  hold,  in  addition  to 
the  service  mentioned  above,  another  at  the  base- 
ball  grounds,    and    yet  another  in  the  rougher  part 

^  Second  Convention  of  Christian  Workers,  New  York,  1887, 
p.  154. 

135 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

of  the  city.  The  Bethany  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Philadelphia  has  open-air  services,  conducted  by  a 
brotherhood  of  young  men.  In  St.  George's  Episco- 
pal Church,  New  York,  the  Brotherhood  of  St.  Andrew 
holds  open-air  services  in  front  of  the  mission  on 
Sunday  afternoon.  The  Boston  Baptist  Tabernacle 
holds  a  variety  of  open-air  meetings, —  at  the  wharves, 
among  Sunday  workers,  and  at  many  points  where 
men  congregate  in  idleness. 

The  most  familiar  example  of  outdoor  worship  was, 
in  the  past,  the  camp  or  tent  meeting.  This  has,  in 
later  years,  been  adapted  to  the  town  by  the  erec- 
tion of  tents  for  holding  religious  services  on  some 
vacant  lot.  Here  the  people  may  be  gathered  night 
after  night,  during  the  heated  term,  when  it  would 
be  impossible  to  get  them  to  go  into  a  hot,  close 
hall.  Then,  too,  those  who  would  not  go  to  a  reli- 
gious meeting  may,  perchance,  in  passing,  pause  to 
hear  a  sweet  Gospel  song,  or  may  catch  some  word  of 
entreaty  that  will  strike  home  to  the  conscience.  In 
the  summer  of  1896,  tent  meetings  were  successfully 
held  in  New  York,  and  resulted  in  many  conversions. 

Still  more  effective  in  reaching  the  masses,  who  w^ill 
not  go  to  the  place  where  the  Word  is  preached,  is  the 
Gospel  wagon,  since  it  may  be  moved  into  densely 
populated  neighborhoods,  where  there  is  no  chance  to 
13ut  up  a  tent.  Two  or  three  audiences  may  be  ad- 
dressed on  the  same  night,  and  a  large  number  of 
people  reached.  Besides  the  crowd  that  gathers 
around  the  wagon,  there  is  an  invisible  audience 
within  the  houses  in  the  vicinity. 

In  Washington,  D.  C,  they  have  a  Gospel  push- 
cart, which  can  get  still  closer  to  the  people,  as  it  can 
be  moved  by  hand  into  narrow  alleys  where  a  wagon 
could  not  be  drawn.     The  Gospel  wagon  is  manned 

136 


OPEN-AIR  PREACHING. 

by  a  corps  of  earnest  workers  who  are  able  to  sing  or 
speak  in  the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  A  portable 
organ  is  of  great  assistance  in  the  music.  In  some 
cases  a  number  of  volunteer  workers  accompany  the 
wagon  on  foot.  The  office  of  these  is  to  notice  those 
who  seem  affected  by  the  talk,  and  to  enter  into  con- 
versation with  them  and  strive  to  bring  them  to 
Christ.  After  the  speaking  and  singing,  opportunity 
is  given  to  signify  the  desire  for  a  better  life,  and  an 
after-meeting  is  held,  when  personal  work  is  done. 
The  wagons  also  distribute  tracts  and  sell  or  give 
away  Bibles  and  Testaments. 

The  Gospel  wagon  may  very  profitably  be  used  in 
the  village  or  city  park,  by  the  beach  or  common 
outing-place,  and  services  conducted  for  the  benefit 
of  those  who  throng  such  places  during  the  hot  even- 
ings of  summer.  By  Gospel  wagon  I  do  not  mean 
any  particular  wagon,  although  wagons  are  made  for 
that  distinct  purpose.  Gospel  wagons  are  impro- 
vised. Any  vehicle  serving  the  purpose  of  elevation 
and  transportation  is  made  use  of  every  year  by  many 
ministers  for  this  purpose.  There  is  never  want  for 
a  congregation.  People  are  attentive,  and  there  are 
reports  of  many  conversions. 

The  work  spoken  of  above  has  been  largely  that  of 
the  city  church ;  but  let  it  be  remembered  that  the  coun- 
try church  has  as  large  opportunity  for  successful  out- 
door preaching.  The  country  church,  too,  may  carry 
its  aggressive  work  into  its  outlying  districts  in  the 
summer  time,  and  thus  the  busy  farmer  will  not  have 
too  far  to  go  to  reach  and  enjoy  the  privilege  of  Gos- 
pel services.  Whether,  then,  the  message  be  told  in 
the  city,  by  the  restless  sea,  or  in  the  quiet  country,  it 
shall  be  told,  and  the  summer  days  be  no  less  filled  with 
work  for  God  than  the  working  months  of  the  winter. 

137 


MODERN   METHODS  IN   CHURCH   WORK. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

CHAPELS  AND   MISSIONS. 

I  AM  persuaded  that  the  religious  worl^  of  chapels 
and  missions  can  be  less  expensively,  if  not  more 
successfully,  conducted  than  is  usual  in  such  branch- 
work  of  churches.  There  has  been  room  for  improve- 
ment. The  Gospel  services  of  some  chapels  and 
missions  have  suffered  a  dragging  existence,  and  the 
spiritual  results  have  not  been,  according  to  the 
confession  of  men  in  charge,  as  large  as  they  be- 
lieved that  they  had  reason  to  expect.  On  the  other 
hand,  while  the  churches  with  institutional  depart- 
ments have  met  with  unusual  spiritual  results,  yet 
the  number  of  such  expensive  plants,  until  the  wealth 
of  Christians  is  more  consecrated  than  now,  must 
necessarily  be  limited.  Therefore,  instead  of  the 
parish-house  displacing  missions  and  chapels,  there 
promises  to  be  an  increasing  demand  for  them,  es- 
pecially in  the  cities;  for  it  is  here  that  the  great 
tide  of  population  is  coming,  in  high  and  mighty 
waves.  ''  In  one  century  the  population  in  cities  of 
8,000  or  more  has  risen  from  one  thirtieth  to  nearly 
one  third  of  the  whole,  the  rate  of  increase  being 
much  greater  from  1880  to  1890  than  ever  before."  ^ 
Not  only  is  the  population  massing  in  cities,  but 
those  parts  of  the  cities  where  the  population  is 
densest   have  the  fewest  churches.     This  fact   is  so 

1  The  New  Era,  by  Dr.  Strong,  pp.  164,  165. 
138 


CHAPELS  AND  MISSIONS. 

proverbial  that  it  is  not  necessary  to  give  statis- 
tics proving  the  statement.  All  this  goes  to  show 
that  there  will  be  an  increasing  demand  for  chapels 
and  missions.  There  are  simple,  practicable  ways 
of  conducting  such  missions,  reached  by  long  and 
costly  experience,  which  are  being  blessed  to  large 
increase  in  efficiency  and  results  of  the  spiritual 
work. 

First,  as  to  the  religious  services.  How  can  these 
meetings  be  most  successfully  conducted?  The  plan 
of  the  McAll  Mission,  as  that  of  the  Pleasant  Sunday 
Afternoon  in  England  and  America,  is  marked  by 
variety.  Different  speakers  present  the  gospel  mes- 
sage, though  some  one  is  recognized  and  is  always 
present  as  permanent  leader,  known,  possibly,  as  the 
superintendent  of  the  mission.  In  the  McAll  Mis- 
sion two  persons  frequently  give  short  talks  the  same 
evening.  It  is  the  genius  of  the  Pleasant  Sunday 
Afternoon  that  some  new  face  address  the  meeting 
at  every  service.  It  gives  the  o]}portunity  for  the  use 
of  a  large  number  of  lay  ivorkers.  The  plan  has  been 
tried  by  some  chapels  and  missions  in  the  United 
States  with  the  most  gratifying  results.  It  is  true, 
almost  without  exception,  that  the  most  successful 
missions  in  our  cities  are  those  following  the  plan  of 
frequently  having  different  speakers.  The  plan  of 
different  speakers  for  short  talks  is  the  plan,  too, 
advocated  by  so  thoughtful  a  writer  and  experienced 
worker  as  the  Rev.  Dr.  Josiah  Strong. 

Care  should  be  exercised,  of  course,  to  have  the 
best  available  speakers.  But  the  testimony  or  short 
talk  from  stammering  lips  is  often  used  by  the  Spirit 
with  great  power.  If  there  is  loss  in  the  flow  of 
speech,  there  is  gain  in  the  endless  stream  of  living 
witnesses.    Not  only  should  there  be  different  speakers, 

139 


MODERN^  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

but  different  meetings,  also,  should  be  differently  con- 
ducted. It  is  a  principle  of  Mr.  Moody,  I  understand, 
so  to  conduct  meetings  as  not  to  be  anticipated  in  any 
part  of  the  programme.  Variety  in  music  —  quartette, 
vocal  and  instrumental  solos,  chorus,  and  responsive 
singing  —  will  add  to  the  brightness  of  the  meetings. 
Dryness  is  not  essential  to  orthodoxy,  and  truth  that 
runs  in  ruts  is  not  the  most  effective.  Minds  are 
kept  alert  by  varying  the  programme  from  time  to 
time:  responsive  readings,  readings  in  concert,  quot- 
ing individually  verses  of  Scripture,  quoting  pas- 
sages in  concert,  give  pleasant  variety.  Another 
successful  plan  is  to  assign  some  chapter,  and  pass 
little  slips  on  which  the  members  of  the  audience  are 
to  place  the  number  of  their  favorite  verse  in  the 
chapter;  then  the  cards  are  collected  by  the  ushers 
and  classified ;  all  the  verses  chosen  are  read  in  order, 
when  the  number  of  persons  selecting  the  verse  is 
announced.  The  artisan  classes,  for  the  most  part, 
think  differently,  feel  differently,  and  are  moved  dif- 
ferently from  their  more  "well-to-do"  neighbors; 
and  unless  we  can  put  down  our  formalism  at  the 
feet  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  adapt  ourselves  to  the  con- 
ditions and  methods  that  will  prevail,  an  innumerable 
company  will  continue  to  live  Christless  lives  and  die 
Christless  deaths. 

But  it  is  not  enough  that  the  meetings  be  special 
and  specially  good;  there  must  also  be  a  personal 
interest.  Some  missions  send,  as  often  as  once  a 
month,  a  circular  letter  to  the  attendants  of  the  gos- 
pel services.  This  makes  the  invitation  special  and 
individual.  A  mimeographed  letter  or  a  neatly 
printed  circular  can  be  sent.  If  a  mimeographed 
letter  is  used,  the  expense  will  be  but  a  trifle,  save  in 
the  mailing  of  the  letters.    But  the  increase  in  attend- 

140 


CHAPELS  AND  MISSIONS. 

ance  gained  will,  by  an  increase  in  the  collections, 
usually  more  than  cover  the  expense.  The  plan  is  an 
invaluable  aid  in  gaining  attendants  and  regular 
attendance  on  the  gospel  services.  There  is  some- 
thing in  the  fact  that  Uncle  Sam  brings  the  letter  that 
makes  it  appreciated.  We  all  know  that!  It  is  a 
secret  little  pleasure  that  we  never  outgrow.  It  is  to 
be  said  that  one  address  will  answer  for  a  family,  but 
such  envelope  address  should  be  as  inclusive  as  pos- 
sible. For  example,  if  the  family  consists  of  father, 
mother,  and  children,  address  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  C. 
Smith  and  family.  These  little  things  are  not  more 
closely  noticed  or  appreciated  by  the  richer  than  by 
the  poorer  classes.  All  this  is  helpful,  but  there  is 
still  more  that  can  be  done  to  magnify  the  importance 
of  the  individual. 

It  is  desirable  that  each  attendant  feel  that  he  is  a 
part  of  the  chapel ;  that  he  is  responsible  for  and  in 
a  measure  essential  to  its  success.  Those  who  unite 
with  the  church,  of  course,  will  appreciate  their  privi- 
lege and  duty,  but  others  enjoy  belonging  to  some- 
thing, and  a  gain  of  attendance  and  interest  will  be 
made  by  having  an  "attendants  membership."  The 
word  "attendant"  is  used,  that  such  enrolment  may 
not  be  confused  with  membership  of  the  church.  To  be 
enrolled  as  an  attendant,  application  is  made  by  sign- 
ing a  little  card  which  bears  the  simple  statement,  "I 
desire  to  be  enrolled  as  a  regular  attendant  on  the 

gospel  meetings  of Chapel."     The  back  of   the 

card  usually  states  the  advantages  of  such  enrolment 
and  the  duties  which  will  be  expected  of  the  applicant, 
such  as  regular  attendance  as  far  as  practicable  upon 
the  Chapel  meetings,  helping  its  interest  in  any  way 
possible,  also  speaking  well  of  the  chapel  and  its  mem- 
bers, and  so  forth.     When  the  card  is  signed,  a  pass- 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

book  is  handed  the  applicant  which  may  bear  some 
thoughts  similar  to  the  following:  "This  book  will 
admit  the  bearer  to  the  socials,  the  annual  supper, 
and  special  services  at  the  chapel.  This  book  will 
also  insure  the  member  all  the  privileges  of  the  chapel 
and  its  several  societies  under  the  usual  conditions." 
The  pass-book  is  made  of  red  leather,  with  gold  let- 
tering on  the  outside,  and  containing  a  little  leaflet 
of  four  pages  within,  bearing  a  list  of  the  meetings, 
hints  for  helping  in  the  work,  and  the  following  sig- 
nificant statement:  "This  pass  is  available  so  long  as 
the  superintendent  of  the  chapel  is  kept  informed  as 
to  your  address.     If  you  change  your  address,  send 

word   to   the   superintendent  of  Chapel."     The 

pass-book  idea  was  suggested  by  the  pass-book  of 
the  Auxiliary  League  of  the  Salvation  Army.  When 
the  expense  of  the  book  (about  ten  cents)  may  not  be 
warranted,  a  neat  card  will  serve  the  purpose. 

The  same  effort  to  reach  strangers  and  obtain  their 
names  should,  of  course,  be  made  in  the  chapel  as  is 
made  in  the  churches.  There  is  nothing  complex 
about  this  system.  All  is  very  simple.  I  do  not  see 
how  less  could  be  done,  save  the  whole  work  be 
conducted  in  a  loose  and  haphazard  way. 

But  in  addition  to  making  much  of  the  attendants, 
they  should  be  made  to  do  much.  Every  one  enjoys 
being  of  use,  enjoys  realizing  that  he  is  of  some  aid 
in  the  work,  is  regarded  as  of  sufficient  worth  to  be 
used.  To  give  all  something  to  do  must  be  one  great 
study  of  the  superintendent. 

Second,  as  to  the  expenses  of  conducting  the  gos- 
pel services  of  chapels  and  missions.  For  fear  of 
being  misunderstood,  and  at  the  risk  of  appearing  to 
repeat,  I  wish  to  say  that  the  practicability  of  any 
plan  must  be  determined  by  local  conditions.  Th^ 
142 


CHAPELS  AND  MISSIONS. 

method  of  having  lay  speakers  is  a  large  saving  of 
expense.  The  superintendent  in  charge,  by  this 
method,  is  spared  the  burden  of  preparing  many 
addresses,  and  aside  from  the  details  of  the  work 
(about  such  as  rest  on  the  superintendent  of  a  large 
Sunday-school),  only  presides  at  the  meetings  and 
acts  in  the  capacity  of  pastor  to  the  people.  The 
labor  is  not  so  arduous  as  to  demand  all  of  the 
leader's  time.  A  capable  man,  therefore,  for  a  small 
compensation,  can  often  be  secured,  and  sometimes  a 
volunteer  leader  can  be  obtained. 

Now  let  us  see  how  this  plan  works.  There  is  a 
gospel  and  testimony  meeting  one  evening  every 
week,  in  which  the  attendants  and  members  of  the 
mission  take  part.  One  prayer  meeting  a  week  means 
fifty-two  prayer  meetings  a  year.  The  superinten- 
dent, though  a  day  laborer  and  an  uneducated  man, 
in  addition  to  presiding  at  every  gospel  service,  will 
address  the  meeting  as  many  as  four  times  a  year. 
The  pastor  of  the  home  church  and  the  superintendent 
of  the  Mission  Sunday-school  will  each  address  the 
meeting  as  many  as  four  times  during  the  year.  This 
leaves  forty  meetings  to  be  provided  for  by  a  board 
of  ten  officers  of  the  home  church.  These  officers,  in 
alphabetical  rotation,  are  present  at  the  prayer  meet- 
ing, and  give  the  opening  address,  —  each  officer 
appearing  four  times  during  the  year,  and  at  the  con- 
siderable interval  of  ten  weeks.  In  addition  to  the 
interest  awakened  by  the  new  faces  and  the  helpful- 
ness to  the  people  of  the  personal  presence  and  inter- 
est of  different  men,  there  is  a  reflex  influence  upon 
the  church  which  is  felt  for  good  in  its  every  part. 
This  work,  in  being  an  outlet  for  the  energy  of  the 
members  of  the  church,  cannot  be  over-estimated. 
Our  church  work  has  lacked,  in  some  measure,  the 
H3 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

balance  and  support  of  the  man  influence  and  inter- 
est; but  bring  men  into  touch  with  great  needs, 
poverty  of  spirit  and  life,  and  they  will  see  that  there 
is  something  practical  and  real  that  they  can  do,  and 
will  respond  as  steel  to  the  magnet.  This  plan  pro- 
vides for  the  weekly  prayer  meeting  of  the  mission. 
The  Sunday-evening  services  may  be  similarly  con- 
ducted. There  is  always  a  goodly  number  in  the 
church  to  draw  upon  for  such  meetings,  such  as  mem- 
bers of  the  Young  People's  Societies,  Missionary 
Societies,  Men's  Club,  Sunday-school  teachers,  and 
others.  Then,  too,  the  community  can  be  drawn  upon ; 
addresses  can  be  secured  from  lawyers,  physicians, 
business  men,  and  other  laymen.  This  plan  of 
developing  and  using  lay  forces  by  placing  the  chapel 
in  the  charge  of  lay  workers  is  in  successful  opera- 
tion in  the  Ninth  Street  Baptist  Church  of  Cincinnati, 
O.,  Rev.  W.  G-  Partridge,  pastor.  This  church  has 
six  chapels  in  different  parts  of  the  city,  and  the  work 
has  been  greatly  blessed;  through  the  efforts  of  the 
missions  many  souls  have  been  won  to  Jesus  Christ, 
and  brought  into  the  membership  of  the  church.  By 
using  many  lay  speakers,  the  McAU  Mission  "can 
conduct  a  hundred  missions  at  a  total  expense  for 
salaries  of  only  $18,000.  With  us,  a  hundred  city 
missions  would  mean  more  than  a  hundred  paid  mis- 
sionaries at  the  expense  of  not  less  than  $200,000."  ^ 
In  commenting  on  this  difference,  Dr.  Strong  says: 
"Of  course  salaries  are  larger  here  than  in  France, 
but  that  is  only  an  added  reason  for  adopting  cheaper 
methods."^  Should  the  demands  for  the  services  of 
an  ordained  minister  at  the  church  proper  be  so  large 
that  he  could  not  meet  them,  why  not  place  the  several 
chapels  under  the  control  of  one  minister,  giving  him 
1  The  New  Era,  p.  336. 
144 


CHAPELS  AND  MISSIONS. 

the  assistance  of  lay  workers,  as  in  the  plan  outlined 
above.  It  would  soon  be  found,  I  believe,  that  vari- 
ous lines  of  work,  in  addition  to  the  gospel  services, 
could  be  carried  on  for  the  benefit  of  the  residents 
and  their  associates. 

The  foolish  objection,  often  urged,  by  which  many 
churches  excuse  themselves  from  assuming  mission 
work,  is  that  their  church  is  in  a  fashionable  part  of 
town.  So  much  more  reason  for  such  a  church  carry- 
ing on  mission  work!  for  it  has  both  the  means  and 
the  ability ;  nor  is  that  church  which  is  less  fortunate 
financially,  exempt  from  such  missionary  work. 

A  most  comprehensive  plan,  and  one  but  recently 
formulated,  is  known  as  the  "Buffalo  Plan,"  whereby 
many  churches  of  Buffalo,  including  Congregational, 
Methodist  Episcopal,  Presbyterian,  Roman  Catholic, 
Baptist,  Lutheran,  Hebrew,  Unitarian,  and  other 
denominations  have  blocked  out  the  city,  assigning 
a  section  to  the  care  and  supervision  of  each  church, 
whose  duty  it  is  "to  look  after  all  needy  persons  in 
it  who  are  not  otherwise  helped,  and  to  aid  them 
in  any  way  possible,  and  in  connection  with  the 
Charity  Organization  to  keep  close  watch  upon  the 
condition  of  the  people  in  the  district.  Sometimes 
the  district  assigned  to  a  church  is  in  its  immediate 
vicinity;  but  if  it  is  a  strong  church,  and  located  in 
a  well-to-do  quarter  of  the  city,  it  is  more  likely 
to  receive  a  district  in  the  poorer  portion  of  the 
city."^  This  scheme  does  not  preclude  the  church 
working  in  districts  other  than  the  one  assigned;  it 
but  insures  that  the  church  will  look  thoroughly  to 
the  interest  of  that  district.  As  a  result  of  this  co- 
operative plan,  a  large  work  on  institutional  lines, 
such  as  classes,  clubs,  educational  and  social  work, 

1  The  Independent,  July  23,  1896,  p.  13. 
10  145 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

has  already  been  commenced,  and  the  plan  gives  great 
promise  for  the  future. 

All  this  goes  to  show  what  a  large  work  can  be 
accomplished,  and  how  the  members  of  the  church 
can  be  made  of  real  service.  We  must  make  larger 
use  of  lay  workers  or  suffer  the  world  to  be  lost.  It 
is  all  nonsense  for  any  church  to  assume  that  it  has 
not  capable  workers  within  its  membership.  All  can 
do  far  more  in  the  work  for  Christ  than  we  usually 
think ;  the  thing  that  we  as  pastors  need  to  do  is  to 
give  the  people  a  chance  and  encourage  them  to  do. 
Neither  pastors  nor  people  have  a  right  to  stand  on 
excuses. 

"It  is  not  by  might,  nor  by  power,  but  by  my 
Spirit,  saith  the  Lord."  ^ 

1  Zechariah  iv.  6. 


146 


COUNTRY  EVANGELIZATION. 


CHAPTEE   XVIII. 

COUNTRY  EVANGELIZATION. 

It  is  the  farm  and  the  village  that  yearly  furnish 
our  municipal  and  national  life,  civic  and  religious, 
with  a  great  part  of  its  new  blood  and  best  working 
force.  Statistics  show  that  the  greater  proportion  of 
the  young  men  who  enter  the  ministry  received  their 
early  religious  instruction  in  some  country  parish, 
and  it  is  well  known  that  the  greatest  men  of  our 
nation  have  been,  for  the  most  part,  those  who  came 
from  the  farm  or  smaller  town.  Dr.  Mark  Hopkins 
said,  "You  might  sweep  the  whole  of  the  city  of  New 
York  into  the  ocean  to-morrow,  and  the  country  would 
recover  quicker  and  come  out  of  it  better  than  if  you 
should  destroy  a  similar  number  of  men  and  an 
equivalent  amount  of  property  in  the  country  towns."  ^ 
If  this  be  true,  and  the  value  to  the  nation  of  the  men 
and  institutions  of  the  country  is  so  great,  it  must 
also  be  true  of  the  church,  which  is  the  very  heart  of 
any  community,  and  indicates  by  its  pulsations  the 
ebb  and  flow  of  the  life  blood  within.  In  view  of 
the  great  importance  of  the  rural  church  as  a  con- 
servator of  our  country's  weal  and  of  the  principles 
of  the  Church  at  large,  indifference  to  its  welfare  is 
greatly  to  be  regretted.  City  evangelization,  the 
home  church,  missions,  and  other  worthy  causes  have 

1  Quoted  by  Rev.  S.  W.  Dike,  D.D.,  Christianity  Practically 
Applied,  p.  417. 

147 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

claimed  our   attention  to  the   exclusion   of   country 
evangelization. 

Now,  what  are  some  of  the  opportunities  for  coun- 
try evangelization?  It  is  said  that  one-half  of  the 
people  of  the  State  of  Vermont  never  go  to  churcli;^ 
and  when  we  remember  that  Vermont  is  essentially 
a  rural  State,  with  no  great  cities  of  large  foreign 
population  to  swell  the  number  of  the  unchurched,  the 
statement  is  astounding.  Here,  then,  right  at  the 
door  of  the  country  ministers  of  that  State  is  a  field 
which  rivals  that  surrounding  any  church  in  the  larger 
cities.  The  Rev.  Samuel  W.  Dike,  D.D.,  says  that 
the  non-church-goers  in  the  fourteen  northern  States 
east  of  the  Mississippi  consist  largely  of  those  who 
live  more  than  two  miles  from  the  nearest  church,  the 
proportion  being  fifty  per  cent  greater  outside  that 
limit  than  within  it.^  Is  it  not  as  clearly  the  duty  of 
the  country  church  to  carry  the  Gospel  outside  the 
two-mile  limit  as  it  is  incumbent  on  the  city  church 
to  overflow  into  "tenement  districts"?  Dr.  Josiah 
Strong,  after  careful  investigation,  estimates  that 
more  than  one-half  of  our  entire  rural  population 
are  non-church-goers.  He  says:  "A  large  propor- 
tion of  those  who  do  attend  live  in  the  villages, 
while  probably  seventy  per  cent  of  those  who  live 
two  miles  from  church  (which  of  course  means  farm- 
ers) do  not  attend.  As  two-thirds  of  our  entire  pop- 
ulation live  in  the  country,  it  is  evident  that  farmers 
constitute  a  large  proportion  of  the  non-church-going 
class."  ^  Clearly,  then,  here  is  a  great  field,  unworked, 
and  within  reach  of  the  village  and  town  churches. 

1  Prof.  G.  Frederick  Wright  of  Oberlin  College,  Interior,  June 
19,  1890. 

2  Quoted  by  Professor  Wright,  Ibid. 
8  The  New' Era,  p.  207. 

148 


COUNTKY  EVANGELIZATION. 

And  if  this  great  country  population  is  not  reached, 
it  is  due  to  the  criminal  neglect  of  those  churches, 
'Go,'  says  Christ,  'and  disciple  the  world,  and  I 
will  give  you  the  omnipotent  power.'  ^ 

It  may  not  be  possible  to  bring  the  people  beyond 
a  few  miles'  limit  into  the  church,  but  it  is  possible 
to  take  the  church  to  the  people.  The  village  church 
has  the  best  of  opportunities  for  doing  a  large  mis- 
sionary work.  Many  churches  conduct  services 
regularly  in  school-houses  of  the  out-lying  country 
districts.  These  places  of  working  are  called  "Sta- 
tions," and  are  regarded  by  the  parent  church  as  an 
organic  part  of  its  work,  the  meetings  being  con- 
ducted, and  the  largest  part  of  the  pastoral  work  done, 
by  laymen  under  the  direction  of  the  minister.  Rev. 
Newton  W.  Cadwell,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Westfield,  N.  J.,  has  four  such  stations 
in  districts  outside  his  parish.  Each  is  in  charge 
of  a  superintendent,  who,  with  most  of  the  teachers 
in  the  station  school,  are  members  of  the  home  church. 
The  following  excellent  points  give  an  outline  of  hia 
work  in  his  own  words :  — 

"  1.  Always  a  Sunday-school  on  Sabbath  afternoon. 

2.  Always  a  Christian  Endeavor  meeting  once  a  week. 

3.  Always  a  Christmas  and  Children's  Anniversary. 

4.  Always   invited   to  the   home  church  festivals  and 

special  services. 

5.  Always  invited  to  go  with  iis  on  our  annual  summer 

excursion  to  seashore,  and  share  in  the  profits. 

6.  Always  consult  the  Superintendents  every  few  days. 
"  Results  :   Many  additions  to  the  church.     New  people 

developed  and  trained  for  church  workers.  Most  loyal 
adherents  found  in  outside  schools." 

A  similar  movement  was  started  in  Oberlin,  O.,  in 
the  fall  of  1890.     Meetings  were  held  in  sixteen  out- 

1  Matthew  xxviii.  19,  20. 
149 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

lying  country  districts,  some  of  them  several  miles 
from  the  village.  In  less  than  a  year  one  hundred 
and  ninety  conversions  were  reported.  What  has  been 
done  in  one  country  parish  may  be  accomplished  in 
another.  The  plan  of  working  is  simple.  In  the  home 
church  some  one  usually  is  found  living  near  the  ob- 
jective centre  of  the  new  work  who  will  act  as  super- 
intendent. If  not,  a  little  of  the  enthusiasm  that 
sends  a  citizen  out  in  that  direction  to  hunt  up  voters 
in  the  fall  may  be  aroused  in  the  church-members  by 
the  minister  who  wants  to  see  righteousness  carry  by 
a  good  large  majority.  The  Christian  Endeavor  or 
other  Young  People's  Society  is  of  great  aid  in  this 
work.  Pledged  to  active  Christian  service,  the  mem- 
bers of  this  Society  will  lend  themselves  to  carrying 
on  aggressive  work  if  the  pastor  co-operates  with 
them  and  directs  their  energy.  A  committee  of  the 
Endeavor  Society  of  the  home  church  may  have  in 
charge  the  organization  of  branch  societies  in  the 
stations,  and  may  go  out  on  Sunday  afternoon  to 
assist  in  carrying  on  the  Sunday-school.  The  work 
of  the  station  once  well  organized,  the  Christian 
Endeavor  Society  is  naturally  cared  for  by  the  attend- 
ants from  the  district;  the  same  interest  and  readi- 
ness for  prayer  and  testimony  prevailing  here  as 
characterizes  such  meetings  everywhere.  The  Chris- 
tian Endeavor  meeting  may  be  the  weekly  prayer 
meeting  of  the  station.  And  when  impossible  to 
have  a  gospel  address  or  sermon  each  week,  the  Chris- 
tian Endeavor  meeting  is,  for  the  time  being,  the 
centre  of  their  Christian  work  and  worship.  In  this 
way  a  great  many  workers  are  developed. 

To  reach  those  in  the  country  who  from  ill  health 
or  lack  of  facilities  to  get  to  the  station  are  kept 
away  from  the  meetings,  the   Home   Department  of 

150 


COUNTRY  EVANGELIZATIOlSr. 

the  Sunday-school  has  been  found  to  be  of  great  ser- 
vice. When  to  this  is  added  the  invitation  to  help  in 
such  enterprises  of  the  church  as  may  be  participated 
in  at  home,  such  as  help  with  the  missionary  box  or 
furnishing  supplies  for  the  picnic  or  church  festival, 
so  much  interest  and  enthusiasm  for  the  church  is 
aroused  that  obstacles  deemed  at  first  insuperable  are 
overcome,  and  the  non-attendant  developed  into  the 
regular  church-goer. 

How  shall  this  work  of  evangelizing  the  country  be 
inaugurated?  In  the  first  place,  the  ministers  of  vil- 
lages and  smaller  cities  must  realize  their  responsi- 
bility for  country  evangelization.  They  must  preach 
Christ,  the  Saviour  of  the  world,  and  work  for  a 
MISSIONARY  church.  Is  this  possible  with  a  church  so 
feeble  that  it  is  barely  holding  its  own,  the  number 
of  yearly  accessions  scarcely  counterbalancing  those 
who  pass  away?  If  so,  what  is  the  first  step? 
Organize  the  Christian  Endeavor,  Ep worth  League, 
or  a  society  with  similar  principles,  but  do  not  limit 
the  membership  to  the  very  young.  The  prestige  of 
these  societies  has  penetrated  to  the  remotest  hamlet, 
and  the  people  will  be  glad  to  join  them.  With  this 
organization  at  the  heart  of  the  church,  with  the 
hearty  co-operation  of  the  officers  of  the  church 
(which  the  pastor  must  by  all  means  secure),  with 
his  personal  influence  and  preaching,  the  smoulder- 
ing church  may  be  made  a  "burning  and  a  shining 
light." 

A  series  of  revival  meetings  for  the  benefit  of  the 
church  itself  is  always  helpful.  When  there  is  an 
aroused  interest  and  consciousness  of  spiritual  bless- 
ing, then  come  with  strongest  message  on  the  duty 
of  the  church  to  the  unsaved  around  them.  God's 
people  will  not  prove  unfaithful;  but  every  church, 
151 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHUKCH  WORK. 

I  believe,  will  cry  out,  "What  can  we  do  to  help 
them?  "  Some  one  has  said  that  the  way  to  carry  a 
reform  is  so  to  labor  that  people  will  say,  "Why,  this 
is  our  reform."  That  is  the  wise  way  of  conducting 
every  good  movement.  Guiding,  but  avoiding  all 
appearance  of  driving,  the  pastor  will  lead  his  people 
to  suggest  the  effort  to  gather  in  the  people  in  the 
surrounding  neighborhoods.  A  committee  can  then 
be  appointed  to  see  the  trustees  and  obtain  the  use  of 
a  given  school-house  or  to  secure  other  suitable  place 
for  services,  and  get  permission  to  announce  in  the 
day  school  a  series  of  meetings.  A  week's  meetings, 
with  every  effort  being  made  to  get  all  the  people  of 
the  vicinity  to  attend,  may  close  with  the  organiza- 
tion of  a  Sunday-school  and  a  Christian  Endeavor  or 
other  similar  society,  as  may  be  practicable.  The 
work  of  one  station  would  then  be  strongly  inaugu- 
rated. Let  not  the  home  church  grudge  the  money  to 
buy  Gospel  Hymns;  it  will  come  back  in  a  harvest 
of  treasure  and  souls.  Other  stations  may  be  occu- 
pied as  time  goes  on,  and  soon  the  church  will  be  the 
centre  of  a  large,  aggressive  work. 

All  this  presupposes  hard  work,  —  work  that  may 
be  regarded  as  beyond  reason  by  some  members  of 
the  country  church,  though  not  exceeding  that  per- 
formed without  question  by  workers  in  a  city  church, 
amid  all  the  demands  upon  the  time  incident  to  life 
in  town.  It  is  a  matter  of  education  as  well  as 
spiritual  fitness,  but  the  pastor  who  himself  yearns  to 
extend  the  kingdom  will  best  succeed  with  his  people 
in  this  work. 

A  house-to-house  canvass  of  the  field  (as  indicated 
in  the  chapter  on  "Reaching  the  People  Outside  the 
Church")  will  prove  of  incalculable  aid  in  reaching 
the  country  people. 

152 


COUNTRY   EVANGELIZATION. 

Efforts  to  evangelize  the  territory  circumjacent  to 
the  country  church  is  one  of  the  conditions,  I  believe, 
of  the  spiritual  growth  of  that  church.  Little  wonder 
that  rural  churches  dwindle  away  when  many  of  them 
do  no  missionary  work  of  this  kind!  "He  that 
abideth  in  me,  and  I  in  him,  the  same  bringeth  forth 
much  fruit."  ^  So  long  as  the  country  churches  fail 
to  go  with  the  Gospel,  so  long  will  they  be  cursed 
with  barrenness  and  suffer  a  struggling  existence. 

*' Faith,  simple  faith,  the  promise  sees, 
And  looks  to  that  alone  ; 
Laughs  at  impossibilities, 
And  cries,  It  shall  be  done." 

1  John  XV.  5. 


153 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

men's  clubs. 

Grand  as  is  the  work  of  the  Men's  Sunday  Evening 
Club,  it  is  evident  that  this  society  is  not  adapted  to 
all  churches.  The  Sunday  evening  service  may  al- 
ready be  under  successful  management,  or  the  need 
of  the  field  may  demand  a  comprehensive  society  for 
various  lines  of  work. 

1.  A  society  of  men,  organized  for  general  church 
work,  and  one  of  the  largest  and  most  successful  of 
its  kind,  is  the  Westminster  Club,  in  the  Westmin- 
ster Church,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  of  which  Rev.  Samuel  Van 
Vranken  Holmes  is  pastor.  The  Club  holds  monthly 
meetings  at  the  private  residences  of  members,  when 
a  literary  programme  is  followed  by  refreshments  and 
a  social  good  time. 

The  Constitution  and  By-Laws  of  this  Club  are 
model  ones.  According  to  the  Constitution  the  object 
of  the  organization  is  to  secure  the  associated  services 
of  the  men  of  Westminster  Church  and  Congregation  in 
religious,  philanthropic,  and  social  work.  The  officers 
are  a  president,  three  vice-presidents,  a  treasurer, 
recording  secretary,  and  corresponding  secretary. 
These  officers  with  the  pastor  ex  officio  constitute  an 
executive  board  for  the  governing  of  the  Club.  There 
are  three  general  standing  committees,  of  each  of 
which  one  of  the  vice-presidents  of  the  Club  is  chair- 
man, viz.:  1.  Committee  on  Religious  Affairs;  2. 
154 


MEN'S  CLUBS. 

Philanthropic  Committee;  3.  Social  Committee.  In 
addition  to  these,  there  is  also  a  Topic  Committee, 
Membership  Committee,  and  provision  for  such  other 
committees  as  the  executive  board  may  direct.  The 
work  of  the  Topic  Committee  is  by  no  means  a  small 
one.  It  is  their  duty  to  provide  topics  for  discussion 
and  suitable  speakers,  at  the  regular  meetings,  and  to 
furnish  the  Corresponding  Secretary  the  material  for 
his  announcements  at  least  two  weeks  in  advance. 
While  it  is  the  special  duty  of  the  Social  Committee  to 
promote  the  social  interests  of  the  Church  and  of  the 
Club  by  welcoming  strangers  and  by  providing  suitable 
entertainments,  yet  it  is  the  thought  and  purpose  of 
the  Club  that  this  social  spirit  should  prevail  with  all 
the  members  of  the  association.  The  annual  dues  of 
members  are  three  dollars ;  each  member  has  the  priv- 
ilege of  inviting  one  gentleman  to  any  regular  meeting 
of  the  Club  (except  annual  meetings)  provided  he  se- 
cure the  permission  of  the  host  at  least  three  days  in 
advance. 

In  answer  to  an  inquiry  as  to  the  result  and  influence 
of  the  work  of  this  Club,  Rev.  Mr.  Holmes  writes  : 
*' Two  years  of  deepening  interest  and  growing  work 
have  served  to  establish  the  Club  as  one  of  the  most 
important  factors  in  our  church  life.  Men  hitherto 
unidentified  with  any  form  of  organized  church  effort 
are  now  enthusiastic  workers ;  men  of  different  in- 
terests and  from  different  relations  in  society  have 
been  brought  into  close  and  friendly  contact ;  and  one 
detects  a  spirit  of  loyal  attachment  to  Westminster 
Chui'ch,  which  before  was  lacking.  The  large  success 
of  the  Club  in  these  regards  has  been  due,  I  think,  to 
two  causes.  First,  the  care  that  has  been  taken  by 
the  Topic  Committee  to  malie  each  meeting  one  of 
interest  and  profit  to  thoughtful  and  cultivated  minds. 

155 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

Prominent  men,  many  of  them  specialists  from  out  of 
the  city,  have  been  secured  to  speak  at  the  monthly 
meetings ;  and  in  no  instance  have  we  been  disappointed. 
Men  will  attend  the  Club  meetings  only  when  they  can 
be  sure  that  the  effort  will  be  repaid;  and  without 
such  regular  and  general  attendance,  a  church  club 
will  quickly  languish  and  die.  In  the  second  place, 
work  of  far-reaching  importance  has  been  undertaken, 
giving  each  member  something  to  do.  Westminster 
House,  our  Social  Settlement,  has  been  supported  and 
managed  entirely  by  the  Club.  In  the  past  year 
$3,000  has  been  raised  for  its  maintenance,  and  many 
of  the  men  have  given  an  evening  each  week  to  the 
care  of  the  various  clubs  and  classes  incident  to  set- 
tlement work.  The  good  thus  accomplished  can 
hardly  be  estimated,  while  its  reflex  influence  upon 
the  men  of  the  parish  has  been  enormous.  Westmin- 
ster Club  is  just  entering  on  its  third  year  of  life  with 
membership  of  one  hundred  and  fourteen,  with  pros- 
pects brighter  than  ever  before,  and  with  a  philan- 
thropic fervor  among  the  men  of  the  church  which 
could  have  been  quickened  in  no  other  way.  I  can 
cordially  commend  the  organization  work  of  our  Club 
to  other  churches.  Especially  to  those  churches  which, 
like  Westminster,  have  among  their  number  men  from 
different  walks  of  life,  and  some  wealth  at  their  com- 
mand, I  am  convinced  that  our  methods  are  suited  to 
accomplish  the  largest  and  most  lasting  results." 

With  organization  almost  identical  with  that  of  the 
Westminster  Club,  the  Men's  Society  of  the  Church  of 
the  Covenant,  Washington,  D.  C,  is  doing  a  large  and 
aggressive  work.  Rev.  Tennis  S.  Hamlin,  D.D.,  the 
pastor  of  this  church,  writes :  "  The  Men's  Society  of 
the  Church  of  the  Covenant  has  been  very  useful  dur- 
ing its  two  and  a  half  years  of  existence,  in  enlisting 

156 


MEN'S  CLUBS. 

the  interest  and  services  of  men  not  before  actively 
identified  with  any  form  of  the  work.  Our  Religious 
Committee  conducts  evangelistic  services  from  time  to 
time  at  our  mission,  takes  part  in  our  midweek  ser- 
vice, and  is  generally  useful.  The  Philanthropic 
Committee  does  much  good  among  the  poor,  maintains 
a  reading-room  at  the  mission,  etc.  The  Social  Com- 
mittee prepares  our  monthly  programme,  always  ex- 
cellent, serves  refreshments  at  each  meeting,  calls  on 
strangers,  etc.  The  total  effect  of  the  Society  has 
been  a  marked  accession  of  esprit  de  corps  throughout 
the  ranks  of  our  men." 

2.  Laboring-Men's  Clubs.  When  we  come  to  pro- 
vide for,  and  aim  to  reach,  working-men,  it  is  evident 
that  our  plans  must  again  be  modified  to  meet  the 
changed  conditions  and  different  personalities  with 
which  we  have  to  do.  Great  masses  of  laboring  men 
live  in  cramped  apartments  of  one  or  two  rooms  that 
are  gloomy,  dirty,  and  filthy  ;  especially  is  this  true 
of  our  tenement  population.  What  is  called  "  home  " 
is  a  cheerless,  depressing  place.  The  men  go  to  the 
street  for  diversion.  But  the  policemen  and  lamp-posts 
are  not  companionable.  What  are  they  to  do  ?  The 
church  is  closed.  But  the  saloon  is  open,  and  for  five 
cents  they  can  find  fellowship,  be  on  a  footing  of  equal- 
ity, have  a  mug  of  beer,  smoke,  talk,  and  share  a  room 
that  is  warm,  lighted,  and  cheery.  It  is  plain  that  the 
social  side  of  the  life  of  the  laboring-man  must  be  taken 
into  account  in  our  dealing  with  him.  There  are  some 
churches  that  have  appreciated  this  fact  and  have  or- 
ganized men's  week-day  social  clubs.  These  clubs, 
while  not  distinctly  religious,  have  proven  helpful  to 
the  men  and  to  the  church. 

In  Pullman,  111.,  such  a  club  was  organized  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Greenstone  Presbyterian  Church* 

157 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

It  is  called  the  Young  Men's  Institute.  There  is  no 
charge  for  membership,  and  the  privileges  afforded 
are  very  great.  A  reading-room,  gymnasium,  bowl- 
ing-alley, and  large  lecture  hall  are  a  part  of  the 
equipment,  while  lecture  courses,  scientific  classes, 
and  an  ambulance  corps  are  being  arranged  for  the 
future. 

In  connection  with  the  Chapel  Clergy  House  of  Grace 
Church,  New  York,  there  is  a  Men's  Social  Club,  which 
holds  weekly  meetings.  The  first  meeting  in  the  month 
is  for  business,  the  third  is  social,  and  a  great  variety 
of  entertainment  is  given,  comprising  music,  recitations, 
and  lectures.  On  the  other  club  nights,  the  men  meet 
informally.  Rev.  Melville  K.  Bailey,  assistant  minis- 
ter, says,  that  while  the  club-room  is  supplied  with 
newspapers  and  periodicals  and  has  a  fine  library,  the 
men  make  very  little  use  of  these  things.  In  the  main 
they  come  to  meet  each  other,  the  clergy  and  lay 
helpers,  so  it  is  along  this  friendly  line  that  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Club  are  reached.  No  distinctly  religious 
feature  is  introduced  into  the  meetings  of  the  Club,  but 
the  members  are  invited  to  attend  the  church  services 
in  general,  and  a  special  invitation  is  given  on  occasions 
of  particular  interest  to  them.  Mr.  Bailey  further  says 
that  the  Men's  Club  is  found  to  be  the  most  effectual 
means  in  the  chapel  for  attracting  mature  men  to  the 
church,  and  that  by  the  visits  of  the  clergy  to  the  men 
in  their  homes,  the  members  of  the  Club  and  their  fami- 
lies are  often  led  to  confirmation,  the  communion,  and 
other  services  of  the  church.  He  sums  up  the  benefits 
of  the  Club  as  follows  :  — 

^'  An  advantage  to  the  members  in  finding  work. 

"  A  stimulus  to  their  mental  life. 

"  A  strengthening  of  the  spirit  of  fraternity. 

"  A  deepening  of  their  religious  life." 
158 


MEN'S  CLUBS. 

This  social  side  of  the  working-man's  nature,  that  part 
of  him  that  wants  companionship  rather  than  culture, 
that  prefers  the  plain  room  with  his  mates  to  the  finely 
appointed  one  without  them,  is  not  taken  into  account 
always.  And  yet  we  ought  to  rejoice  in  it,  for  it  is 
proof  that  he  has  a  heart  to  reach,  though  he  conceal 
it  under  much  roughness  of  talk  and  uncouthness  of 
behavior. 

In  speaking  of  the  Pleasant  Sunday  Afternoon,  Rev. 
F.  B.  Meyer,  B.A.,  of  Christ  Church,  London,  tells  how 
he  carried  out  a  business  social  for  the  benefit  of  the 
members  of  that  brotherhood.  He  says  :  "  At  the  end 
of  two  months,  so  many  had  joined  that  I  felt  it  desii'- 
able  to  apportion  the  work  amongst  them,  and  therefore 
invited  them  one  evening  to  a  meat  tea.  This  was  a 
great  occasion.  The  ladies  of  my  congregation  cooked 
the  joints,  which  disappeared  with  surprising  swiftness; 
and  after  the  tables  were  cleared,  the  men  arranged 
themselves  around  the  platform  for  business.  Then 
there  took  place  an  episode  which  to  my  working  broth- 
ers cemented  our  union  as  tenaciously  as  salt  does 
the  Bedouin  and  the  traveller.  Every  one  who  knows 
me  knows  that  I  neither  smoke  nor  enjoy  smoke,  much 
less  tobacco-smoke.  But  I  knew  that  to  a  working- 
man  smoke  is  more  than  food,  and  that  if  they  could 
not  smoke  in  the  hall,  some  of  them  would  be  itching 
to  get  out  to  the  street  or  public  house.  So  I  had  in- 
vested ten  shillings  in  the  purchase  of  tobacco  of  a 
special  quality,  highly  recommended  by  a  friend  on 
whose  judgment  I  could  rely.  This  was  handed  round 
amid  the  cheers  of  the  men,  accompanied  by  my  expla- 
nation that  I  had  no  wish  to  impose  my  feelings  in  the 
matter  on  them,  and  that  I  could  forgive  the  smoke  if 
they  would  renounce  the  beer.  *  To  what  purpose  was 
this  waste  ?  *  says  some  critic.     But  I  refuse  to  con- 

159 


MODERN"  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

sider  that  money  wasted  which  enables  you  to  weave  a 
bond  between  another  soul  and  yourself,  forming  a 
strand  which  will  presently  draw  in  the  rope  and  that 
the  cable  and  the  twisted  iron. "  ^ 

Mr.  Meyer  certainly  has  had  great  success  in  welding 
the  hearts  of  laboring-men  to  himself ;  and  if  the  Church 
at  large  can  get  hold  of  them  on  their  social  side,  she 
also  may  draw  them  to  her  by  the  ' '  cable  and  the 
twisted  iron  "  that  had  its  origin  in  this  simple  strand. 
It  is  in  appreciation  of  this  fact,  doubtless,  that  the 
63d  Street  Mission  of  the  Fifth  Avenue  Presbyterian 
Church,  New  York,  Rev.  John  Hall,  D.D.,  pastor,  has 
a  men's  club-room  with  papers  and  periodicals,  which 
is  accessible  at  all  hours  of  the  day  and  evening,  and 
where  the  men  are  permitted  to  smoke  at  any  time. 
There  is  also  a  bowling-alley  in  connection  with  the 
club-room.  St.  Bartholomew  Mission  of  the  Church  of 
St.  Bartholomew,  New  York,  also  has  such  a  club- 
room  ;  and  many  other  churches  make  the  same  pro- 
vision for  the  laboring-man. 

A  somewhat  different  organization  from  the  above 
mentioned,  and  one  that  may  now  be  called  a  move- 
ment, as  it  has  been  and  is  being  adopted  by  a  large 
number  of  churches,  is  the  Christian  Industrial  League.^ 
This  is  a  society  within  the  church  or  mission,  and  its 
object  is  to  organize  the  men  of  the  church  for  the  pur- 
pose of  reaching  men,  especially  those  who  are  engaged 
in  industrial  pursuits,  and  train  them  to  do  personal 
Christian  work  among  their  fellows ;  to  promote  the 
domestic,  social,  and  spiritual  life  of  its  members ;  to 
promote  patriotism,  and  to  give  help  in  sickness  by 
providing  watchers,   nurses,  etc.     In  connection  with 

1  Christian  Treasury,  February,  '95,  p.  37. 
^  For  literature,  constitution,  and  by-laws,  etc.,  address,  Chris- 
tian Industrial  League,  Springfield,  Mass. 

160 


MEN'S  CLUBS. 

the  League  is  the  Christian  Industrial  Benefit  Associa- 
tion, the  object  of  which  is  to  provide  for  the  temporal 
wants  of  its  members  and  of  family  or  friends  in  case 
of  death.  This  association  gives  laboring-men  the 
benefit  of  a  society  conducted  on  Christian  and  philan- 
thropic business  principles,  encourages  providence,  and 
meets  the  need  of  providing  for  one's  family  in  case  of 
sickness  or  of  death.  It  should  be  remembered  that 
the  Benefit  Association  is  a  voluntary  step  open  to  the 
members  of  the  Industrial  League.  Strongest  testimo- 
nials have  been  given  by  ministers  as  to  the  value  of 
the  League  in  organizing  the  men  of  the  church,  de- 
veloping a  spirit  of  Christian  service,  and  winning  men 
to  Jesus  Christ. 


II  161 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 


CHAPTEK   XX. 

REACHING  AND  HOLDING  YOUNG  MEN. 

In  the  progress  of  the  kingdom,  no  one  thing  in  recent 
years  is  more  significant  than  the  aroused  conscience 
and  increasing  interest  and  activity  of  young  men  in 
Christian  work.  The  tide  has  turned.  It  is  beating 
at  the  doors  of  our  churches.  All  that  it  asks  is  a 
chance,  —  the  open  door.  Wherever  entrance  has 
been  given,  the  flow  of  a  new  life  has  come  surging 
through  the  church,  and  with  irresistible  power.  The 
following,  from  a  pastor  of  one  of  the  largest  churches 
in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  is  illustrative  of  many  messages 
received  by  me :  "  It  is  my  conviction  that  the  move- 
ment of  the  young  men  of  our  country  toward  support- 
ing the  Church  at  large  and  its  interest  has  been  marked 
of  recent  years ;  and  instead  of  fewer  young  men  at- 
tending service,  a  larger  number  are  attending  than  ever 
before.  Certainly,  if  my  congregation  is  any  indication, 
there  is  a  far  greater  proportion  of  young  men  than 
young  women  in  attendance,  and  I  believe  such  may  be 
found  to  be  the  case  in  most  centres  of  population."  ^ 

A  canvass  of  some  of  the  colleges  shows  that  the 
number  of  church  communicants  in  the  student  body, 
Department  of  Liberal  Arts,  is  as  follows  :  — 

Northwestern  University 75  % 

Yale  University 66% 

Princeton  University 64  % 

1  Rev.  Henry  Elliott  Mott,  pastor  of  the  Central  Presbyterian 
Church. 

162 


REACHING  AND  HOLDING  YOUNG  MEN. 

Cornell  University 37% 

University  of  Pennsylvania 50% 

Oberlin  CoUege 85% 

Michigan  University 45% 

Ohio  Wesleyan  University 85  % 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  number  of  church  com- 
municants in  most  of  the  western  colleges  is  much 
larger.  When  we  remember  that  a  hundred  years  ago 
Yale  University  had  but  four  or  five  Christians  in  its 
entire  student  body/  we  at  once  perceive  the  increas- 
ing hold  of  Christianity  on  young  men.  In  Young 
Men's  Christian  Associations  and  other  societies  there 
is  evidence  of  the  same  Christian  awakening  and  aggres- 
siveness. A  church  which  is  not  reaching  young  men 
and  holding  them  within  its  fellowship  may  well  ques- 
tion the  spirit  and  methods  of  its  work. 

The  purpose  of  this  chapter  is  to  speak  of  four  or- 
ganized movements  among  young  men  of  the  church 
for  aggressive  Christian  work.  There  are  other  soci- 
eties' doing  a  large  and  successful  work,  but  their 
several  methods  are  practically  covered  in  one  form 
or  another  by  the  following  societies :  the  Brother- 
hood of  St.  Andrew,^  the  Brotherhood  of  Andrew 
and  Philip,^  the  Young  Men's  Sunday  Class,  and  the 
Young  Men's  Club. 

I.  The  Brotherhood  of  St.  Andrew  is  an  organiza- 
tion of  young  men  in  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 
It  was  the  example  of  this  society  which  inspired  the 
organization  of  the  Brotherhood  of  Andrew  and  Philip 
for  work  among  the  non-Episcopal  churches.  A  study 
of  the  Brotherhood  of  St.  Andrew,  therefore,  will  not 

1  Dorchester's  Problem  of  Religious  Progress,  p.  107. 

2  Mr.  John  W.  Wood,  General  Secretary,  281  Fourth  Avenue, 
New  York. 

«  Mr.  Edgar  M.  Folsom,  General  Secretary,  93  West  103d  Street, 
New  York. 

163 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

only  inform  us  as  to  the  work  of  that  society,  but  will 
also  help  us  to  understand  the  work  of  the  Brother- 
hood of  Andrew  and  Philip.  The  following  is  from 
the  Constitution  of  the  St.  Andrew  Society :  — 

"  Object.  The  sole  object  of  the  Brotherhood  of  St.  An- 
drew is  the  spread  of  Christ's  Kingdom  among  young  men, 
and  to  this  end  every  man  desirmg  to  become  a  member 
thereof  must  pledge  himseK  to  obey  the  rules  of  the  Brother- 
hood so  long  as  he  shall  be  a  member. 

"  Rules.  These  rules  are  two  :  The  Rule  of  Prayer  and  the 
Rule  of  Service.  The  Rule  of  Prayer  is  to  pray  daily  for  the 
spread  of  Christ's  Kingdom  among  young  men  and  for  God's 
blessing  upon  the  labors  of  the  Brotherhood.  The  Rule  of 
Service  is  to  make  an  earnest  effort  each  week  to  bring  at 
least  one  young  man  within  the  hearing  of  the  Gospel  of 
Jesus  Christ." 

The  Brotherhood  was  organized  in  St.  James  Church, 
Chicago,  on  St.  Andrew's  Day,  1883.  It  takes  its 
name  from  the  apostle,  who,  when  he  had  found  the 
Messiah,  went  at  once  for  his  own  brother  Simon  and 
brought  him  to  Jesus.  The  work  of  the  society  from 
its  inception  was  so  successful  in  bringing  non-church- 
going  men  into  the  services,  that  other  chapters  were 
soon  started  ha%ang  the  same  object  and  two  rules. 
Now,  "by  the  influence  of  young  men  upon  their 
fellows,"  and  of  one  church  upon  another,  the  move- 
ment has  grown  until  there  are  about  fifteen  hundred 
chapters  with  sixteen  thousand  and  more  members. 
There  are  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  chapters  con- 
nected with  the  Church  of  England,  forty  in  Australia ; 
also  chapters  in  English  and  American  churches  in 
various  parts  of  the  world,  —  Germany,  West  Indies, 
Barbadoes,  British  Honduras,  New  Zealand,  and  other 
places.  This  is  a  wonderful  showing  when  we  remem- 
ber that  the  Brotherhood  of  St.  Andrew  is  limited  to 

164 


REACHING  AND  HOLDING  YOUNG  MEN. 

one  denomination  and  to  one  sex.  It  is  a  society  of 
young  men  working  for  young  men.  The  members  are 
under  a  solemn  obligation  to  pray  and  to  work,  and  to 
pray  every  day  and  to  do  something  definite  every  week 
"  to  bring  at  least  one  young  man  within  hearing  of 
the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  as  set  forth  in  the  services 
of  the  Church."  The  effort  of  the  society  is  not  for 
numbers,  but  for  efiicient  workers.  No  drones  are 
allowed  within  its  busy  hive.  Those  who  join  the 
Brotherhood  do  so  not  for  what  they  can  get,  but  for 
what  they  can  give,  as  men  whose  minds  and  consciences 
are  aflame  with  a  holy  desire  to  spread  the  Kingdom  of 
Jesus  Christ.  Every  man  is  a  pledged  worker,  a  pledged 
personal  worker,  a  pledged  praying  worker,  and  a  pledged 
definite  worker,  to  reach  some  new  man  each  week. 

One  thing  that  has  long  put  off  the  millennium  has 
been  the  shifting  into  the  future  what  ought  to  be  done 
to-day,  instead  of  saying,  "This  one  thing  I  do.''  It 
is  only  the  men  who  are  ready  to  do  who  are  admitted 
to  the  membership  of  the  Brotherhood  of  St.  Andrew. 
This  qualifying  for  membership  by  heart  communion 
with  God,  and  passionate  heart  longing  to  reach  the 
lost,  gives  the  Brotherhood  of  St.  Andrew  a  somewhat 
unique  position.  It  is  positively  refreshing  to  know 
of  such  a  society,  and  it  is  an  object  lesson  to  every 
Christian  worker.  Its  influence  in  time  ought  so  to 
rattle  the  bones  of  sleeping  organizations  as  either  to 
shake  to  the  dust  the  "  rest-easies  "  or  awaken  them  to 
the  consciousness  of  Christian  privilege  and  responsibil- 
ity. Another  good  of  the  St.  Andrew  Society  is  the  pre- 
vailing spirit  of  prayer  which  possesses  the  young  men 
in  their  work  and  in  their  daily  walk.  The  record  of  the 
chapters  and  their  growth  in  numbers,  and  the  deepen- 
ing spirit  of  consecration  in  the  members,  speaks  of  the 
*'  quiet  hour"  and  of  the  presence  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

165 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

Different  lines  of  work  are  covered  by  the  commit- 
tees of  the  various  chapters.  Last  year  1,072  chapters 
reported  that  their  members  regularly  invite  to  church 
services  friends  and  acquaintances  who  are  irregular 
church-goers;  966  chapters  reported  regular  efforts  to 
bring  men  to  baptism,  confirmation,  and  holy  com- 
munion; 1,174  reported  work  in  welcoming  men  to 
church  services  and  Bible  classes ;  725  reported  Bible 
classes  and  a  total  membership  in  the  neighborhood  of 
1,200;  350  distributed  regularly,  at  houses  and  on  the 
street,  cards  of  invitation  to  service ;  825  made  special 
efforts  to  visit  men  in  their  homes  ;  540  did  hotel  work ; 
360  did  work  at  hospitals,  prisons,  and  other  public 
institutions;  627  men  were  reported  as  acting  as 
licensed  lay  readers;  370  chapters  maintained  or 
assisted  in  maintaining  mission  services.^ 

II.  In  thus  detailing  the  work  of  the  Brotherhood  of 
St.  Andrew,  I  have  practically  given  the  genesis  of  the 
Andrew  and  Philip  Brotherhood,  which  was  organized 
in  1888  by  the  Rev.  Rufus  W.  Miller,  D.D.,  of  Read- 
ing, Penn.,  for  churches  of  all  denominations.  It 
comprehends  the  essential  features  of  the  St.  Andrew 
Society,  but  is  inter-denominational.  The  Andrew 
and  Philip  Brotherhood,  too,  is  not  quite  so  stringent  in 
requirements  for  membership.  Some  chapters,  any- 
way, admit  persons  who  have  little  more  than  a  willing- 
ness to  come.  Such  chapters  argue  that  we  must  take 
young  men  as  we  find  them,  and  lead  them  one  step  at 
a  time  into  a  larger  and  grander  service.  All  that  has 
been  said  in  favor  of  the  St.  Andrew's  Society  is  also 
to  be  said  of  the  Brotherhood  of  Andrew  and  Philip. 

The  following  connnittees  are  suggestive  of  the  work 
which  the  chapters  are  covering  in  the  several 
churches :  Devotional,  Social,  Reading-Room,  Adver- 

1  Statistics  furnished  by  Mr.  John  W.  Wood,  General  Secretary. 
166 


REACHIKG  AND  HOLDING  YOUNG  MEN. 

tising,  Invitation,  Vestibule,  Flower,  Visitation,  Res- 
cue, Strangers',  Ushers',  and  Reception.  The  number 
and  kind  of  these  committees  is  determined,  of  course, 
by  the  needs  of  the  chapter.  The  work  of  these 
brotherhoods  has  been  far-reaching.  But  every  soci- 
ety has  its  limitations,  and  no  one  plan  avails  for  all. 

III.  Another  way  of  working  for  and  reaching  young 
men  is  organizing  them  into  Sunday  Classes.  These 
classes  have  a  twofold  object :  the  study  of  the  Bible 
and  the  cultivation  of  brotherly  intercourse  and  mutual 
benefit.  The  class  usually  meets  at  the  regular  Sun- 
day-school hour  and  studies  the  appointed  Sunday- 
school  lesson,  but  the  principles  and  methods  of  class 
organization  and  procedure  at  once  distinguish  it  from 
the  ordinary  Bible  class.  A  class  which  admirably 
sets  forth  the  new  methods  is  the  Ailing  Class,  which 
was  organized  by  Mr.  Joseph  T.  Ailing  in  the  Central 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

The  growth  of  the  Ailing  Class  is  indicated  by  the 
following  table.  Note  the  rapid  growth  of  the  class 
from  1888,  the  time  when  the  class  was  reorganized 
under  the  new  methods. 


Tear. 

Total  Number 

Average 

Largest 

Enrolled. 

Attendance. 

Attendance. 

1884 

8 

6 

1885 

19 

10 

1886 

19 

llf 

15 

1887 

20 

11 

17 

1888 

24 

18 

20 

1889 

66 

26 

70 

1890 

97 

56 

82 

1891 

276* 

78 

221 

1893 

363* 

153 

345 

1893 

575* 

206 

456 

1894 

872* 

227 

363 

1895 

246 

425 

This  number  includes  registered  visitors. 
167 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

By  the  permission  of  Mr.  Ailing  I  take  the  following 
extracts  from  a  pamphlet  relative  to  his  class  :  — 

"  The  first  step  towards  building  up  a  Young  Men's  Bible 
Class  is  to  arouse  a  strong  class  spirit,  an  enthusiasm  for 
their  own  organization,  and  pride  in  its  success ;  in  short, 
that  very  effective  something  which  the  French  call  ei<prlt 
(le  corps. 

"  Everything,  in  itself  harmless,  that  will  conduce  to  that 
end  has  been  encouraged,  and  the  first  step  was  the  forma- 
tion of  a  class  organization,  officered  entirely  by  members 
of  the  class. 

"  There  is  some  difference  of  opinion  among  class  workers 
as  to  how  completely  the  teacher  should  divorce  himself 
from  all  the  business  affairs  of  his  class,  but  the  opinion  is 
practically  unanimous  that  on  no  account  should  he  be  its 
President.  Very  possibly  the  young  men,  out  of  deference, 
will  offer  to  elect  him  to  that  office,  but  we  should  make  no 
exceptions  whatever  in  saying,  '  Do  not  accept.' 

"  Organization.  —  A  very  simple  organization  answered 
our  purposes  for  some  years.  The  officers  were  a  President, 
Vice-President,  Secretary,  and  Treasurer,  and  the  Executive 
Committee,  made  up  of  the  three  officers  just  mentioned, 
three  other  members  of  the  class,  and  the  teacher,  ex  officio. 
This  organization  has  been  added  to  as  the  needs  developed, 
the  teacher  retaining  at  all  times  his  ex-officio  position  as 
member  of  the  Executive  Committee. 

"  The  officers  at  present  are  a  President,  Vice-President, 
Treasurer,  Corresponding  Secretary,  Recording  Secretary, 
Chairman  of  Attendance  Committee,  Chairman  Social  Com- 
mittee, Chairman  Employment  Committee,  Historian  and 
three  Librarians,  and  an  Executive  Committee." 

Large  numbers  of  men  join  the  church  from  this 
class  every  year.  As  the  result  of  special  meetings 
at  one  time,  one  hundred  and  twenty  members  of  the 
class  indicated  their  interest  in  personal  religion,  and 
out  of  that  number  sixty  soon  joined  the  church. 

A  consideration  of  the  duties  of  the  officers  and 
168 


REACHING  AND  HOLDING  YOUNG  MEN 

committees  of  the  class  will  give  an  idea  of  the  work 
which  is  carried  on  by  it.  The  President,  Vice-Presi- 
dent, and  Treasurer  perform  the  duties  that  fall  to  such 
officers  everywhere.  The  duties  of  the  last  officer 
are  by  no  means  so  light  as  usually  fall  to  the  Bible 
class  treasurer.  During  ten  years  over  five  thousand 
dollars  passed  through  his  hands.  Part  of  this  was 
raised  by  special  entertainments,  part  by  special 
pledges,  and  part  by  the  morning  collections,  which 
average  ten  dollars  a  Sunday.  The  class  pays  twenty 
per  cent  of  their  collection  to  the  Sunday-school, 
and  divides  the  remainder  into  two  funds,  benevolent 
and  expense.  The  class  contributes  to  various  forms 
of  religious  work  from  its  benevolent  fund  on  recom- 
mendation of  the  Executive  Committee.  The  Corre- 
sponding Secretary  is  a  busy  man,  since  to  him  falls 
the  duty  of  mailing  notices  to  members  and  others 
which  are  sent  out  at  least  twice  a  month  the  year 
through.  Invitations  are  sent  to  visitors  and  those 
who  are  not  members  of  the  class.  The  following  is 
an  example  of  the  invitations. 


Dear  Sir,  —  We  were  glad  to  find  your  attendance 
card  among  those  of  the  Ailing  Class  last  week,  and  on 
behalf  of  the  class  we  cordially  invite  you  to  come  again, 
get  acquainted,  and  join  us  if  you  feel  so  inclined.  It  is 
the  aim  of  the  class,  in  its  different  departments  of  work, 
to  interest  and  help  men  as  much  as  possible,  and  if  we 
can  be  of  any  service  to  you,  or  if  you  feel  willing  to  give 
us  the  help  of  your  presence  and  effort,  we  shall  be  most 
glad  to  have  you  become  one  of  our  members,  provided 
you  wish  to  do  so,  and  are  not  connected  with  any  other 
class. 

Yours  very  sincerely. 


President. 
Teacher. 


169 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

If  the  stranger  wishes  to  join  the  class  the  following 
card  is  sent  him  :  — 


ALLING  CLASS  MEMBERSHIP  CARD. 

Date, 189 

Name, 

Address, 

Business  Address, 

^ge, 

Occupation, 

If  ''Student  "  where  ? 

Is  your  home  in  city? 

Ai'e  you  a  member  of  Y.  M.  C.  A.  ? 

Are  you  a  member  of  Y.  P.  S.  C.  E.  ^ 

Are  you  a  member  of  any  other  class?   

Are  you  a  member  of  any  Church  f 

If  so,  what  one  ? 

The  above  questions  are  not  asked  with  any  intention  of  being 
inquisitive,  but  that  the  teacher  of  the  Class  may  become  better 
acquainted  with  each  man  who  becomes  a  member. 

Every  member  is  expected  to  sign  this  card. 


The  Recording  Secretary  makes  up  his  attendance 
roll  from  cards  (like  the  one  on  the  following  page), 
which  are  presented  at  the  door  to  every  man  who 
comes  to  the  class.  They  are  afterward  collected, 
and  from  them   the   attendance  is  made  up. 

These  cards  are  afterward  passed  on  for  the  infor- 
mation of  the  chairman  of  the  Attendance  Committee, 
and  a  careful  record  is  kept  of  the  attendance  of 
every  member.  It  may  be  helpful  to  state  in  this 
connection  that  the  plan  of  Mr.  John  Wanamaker  in 
keeping  record  of  the  members  of  his  large  class  in 
Bethany  Church,  Philadelphia,  is  to  divide  the  class 
into  groups  of  ten  members,  over  each  of  which  is 
appointed  a  leader  who  immediately  visits  all  absen- 

170 


REACHING  AND  HOLDING  YOUNG  MEN. 

tees,  and  reports  weekly  on  his  "  ten."  Thus  all 
cases  of  need,  spiritual  and  material,  are  promptly 
met,  and  the  class  spirit  is  deepened. 


ALLING  CLASS. 

VISITORS. 

We  are  glad  to  have  you  with  us.     Come  again. 

Address, 

Ai-e  you  a  member  of  any  Class?. 

//" "  Student,"  where  ? 

Note.  —  Visitors  are  always  welcome.  If  you  are  not  a 
member  of  any  class,  we  would  be  glad  to  have  you  join  us. 
Apply  to  President  or  Secretary  for  membership  card. 

MEMBERS. 

Address, 

Have  you  signed  Membership  Card? 

Have  you  read  the  Lesson? 


The  chairman  of  the  Attendance  Committee  of  the 
AUing  Class  with  his  colleagues  looks  over  the  record 
weekly,  follows  up  the  new-comers,  and  looks  up 
absentees.  The  chairman  of  the  Social  Committee 
and  those  who  are  associated  with  him  act  as  ushers 
at  the  Sunday  meetings  of  the  class,  and  also  arrange 
for  social  gatherings.  They  have  a  Reception  Com- 
mittee badge  and  greet  the  men,  especially  new- 
comers, and  try  to  make  them  feel  at  home.  They 
are  greatly  assisted  in  their  duties  by  the  custom 
which  prevails  of  devoting  five  minutes  before  the 
lesson  to  hand-shaking.  The  class  thus  becomes  for 
the  time  a  social  "  committee  of  the  whole."  The 
chairman    of    the    Employment    Committee    and    his 

171 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

associates  do  everything  in  their  power  to  obtain  em- 
ployment for  members  out  of  work.  The  whole  class 
are  urged  to  co-operate  with  this  committee  by  giving 
early  information  of  vacancies  of  which  they  may  hear. 
The  librarians  have  charge  of  Bibles  and  singing-books, 
and  distribute  the  attendance  cards. 

The  class,  in  addition  to  the  work  under  the  charge 
of  the  various  committees,  has  undertaken  other  forms 
of  effort  for  young  men.  There  are  under  its  auspices 
baseball,  basket-ball  and  bicycle  clubs.  They  have 
also  a  debating  club  and  an  orchestra,  and  give  enter- 
tainments and  hold  excursions  and  picnics  during  the 
summer  months.  One  of  the  greatest  occasions  of 
the  year  for  the  class  is  the  annual  banquet.  This  is 
held  at  a  time  when  the  largest  attendance  is  obtain- 
able, and  is  served  with  all  the  accessories  and 
accompaniments  of  such  occasions.  Scores  and  hun- 
dreds of  men  have  been  brought  into  membership 
through  the  influence  of  these  annual  gatherings. 

Such  are  the  Ailing  Class  methods,  the  general 
features  of  which,  says  Mr.  Ailing,  were  inspired  by 
those  of  another  Young  Men's  Bible  Class  in  the 
Central  Church,  Rochester,  and  by  the  class  of  the 
late  H.  S.  Hull  of  Bath,  N.  Y.  There  are  now  simi- 
lar classes  in  other  parts  of  the  country.  Wherever 
<iried,  reports  are  that  the  work  has  been  attended 
with  gratifying  results. 

IV.  The  Young  Men's  Club  is  the  fourth  means  of 
reaching  young  men.  Its  aim  is  to  meet  their  demands 
for  healthful  diversion  and  social  pleasure.  It  is 
usually  conducted  as  a  part  of  the  work  of  the  brother- 
hoods above  mentioned,  but  sometimes  the  Club  is  inde- 
pendent of  these,  having  its  own  officers. 

We  can  appreciate  the  value  of  these  clubs  only  as 
we  appreciate  the  need  of  young  men.     The  desire  for 

172 


REACHING  AND  HOLDING  YOUNG  MEN. 

pleasure  is  manifest  very  early  in  life.  A  baby  is  first 
taught  through  its  desire  to  be  amused ;  and  a  child  is 
best  taught  in  the  same  way.  It  was  recognition  of 
this  principle  which  gave  rise  to  the  kindergarten  sys- 
tem. It  may  further  be  said  that  the  desire  to  be 
amused  is  never  exhausted.  The  objects  of  our  imme- 
diate desire  may  change,  man  may  put  away  childish 
things,  but  in  doing  so  he  instinctively  puts  something 
in  their  place.  Now  how  are  we  to  meet  this  demand 
of  young  men  ?  In  their  homes  there  is  not  always  the 
fellowship  of  young  companions,  and  in  some  churches 
there  is  neither  companionship  nor  opportunity  for 
diversion.  What  are  the  young  men  to  do?  They 
have  abounding  energy  and  needs  that  must  be  satis- 
fied; they  have  worked  all  day  at  study,  or  in  the 
store.  The  club  is  too  expensive  or,  if  in  a  smaller 
town,  there  is  none.  Energy  and  desire  have  been 
gathering,  and  they  are  ready,  like  the  waters  of  Niag- 
ara, for  a  plunge  of  some  kind.  Alas !  how  often  it 
rmist  be,  per  force  of  circumstances,  the  wrong  kind. 
Then,  too,  in  addition  to  the  young  men  who  have 
homes,  there  are  in  all  our  towns  and  cities  crowds  of  in- 
telligent young  men  who  are  in  boarding  and  lodging 
houses.  They  find  but  little  social  life  there,  and  feel 
the  necessity  of  going  where  exercise  and  diversion 
may  be  found.  The  club,  the  lodge,  the  armory,  the 
saloon,  —  these  meet  deep  needs ;  and  these  institu- 
tions get  all  the  young  man's  energy  (outside  his  busi- 
ness) and  all  his  time,  save  an  hour  or  two  a  week 
given  to  some  church  service.  Thoughts  are  turned 
from  the  church,  and  the  young  men  who  in  time  are 
not  weaned  from  it  are  the  exception.  How  much 
larger  their  gain,  how  much  larger  the  gain  to  the  church, 
if  this  diversion,  exercise,  and  amusement  can  be  given, 
not  only  apart  from  all  temptation,  but  also  where  there 

173 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

are  positive  injluences  for  good.  Then  young  men  will 
feel  the  influences  of  the  church,  will  recogniae  that  it 
is  their  friend,  and  will  be  receptive  of  its  spiritual 
ministries. 

There  is  another  reason  for  providing  amusements. 
Drawing  young  men  through  such  attractions  is  the 
only  way  of  ever  coming  into  personal  touch  with  many 
of  them.  There  are  young  men  working  at  such  occu- 
pations as  preclude  all  opportunity  of  speaking  with 
them  during  the  day,  and  you  may  seldom  find  them  at 
home  during  the  evening.  How  then  are  we  to  get  hold 
of  these  young  men  to  tell  the  story  of  infinite  love? 
The  world  allures,  unfurls  its  banners  of  hospitality, 
offers  bright,  absorbing  amusement.  If  the  church  is 
to  cope  with  this  tide  of  counter-attractions,  something 
must  be  provided  to  take  its  place.  We  must  "  over- 
come evil  with  good."  ^ 

Social  needs  may  be  met  in  many  ways.  A  club- 
room  contiguous  to  the  main  auditorium  of  the  church 
may  be  easily  arranged  at  comparatively  little  expense. 
This  can  be  supplied  with  books,  magazines,  illustrated 
weeklies,  daily  papers,  and  games.  Give  the  rooms 
an  air  of  comfort ;  make  them  bright,  cheery,  and  at- 
tractive, and  have  easy-chairs,  "  not  straight-backs-in- 
a-row."  A  coffee-urn  in  the  corner,  or  hot  chocolate 
at  pleasure,  will  add  to  sociability  and  good  cheer. 
This  provides  a  place  where  young  men  may  meet  one 
another,  come  together  socially,  and  find  restful  recre- 
ation after  the  day's  toil.  In  this  way  the  holy  and 
persuasive  influences  of  the  church  gradually  enwrap 
a  young  man's  life ;  his  sympathies,  his  thoughts,  are 
with  the  church,  and  soon  his  effort  and  heart  and  life 
are  given  to  the  great  cause  for  which  the  church 
stands.      This  is  taking  the  young  man  a  step  at  a 

1  Romans  xii.  21. 
174 


REACHING  AND   HOLDING  YOUNG  MEN. 

time.  "  What  we  need,"  says  Dr.  Edward  Judson,  "  is 
a  kind  of  a  halfway  house  on  the  road  leading  from 
the  saloon  to  the  prayer  meeting.  Nowadays  you 
cannot  swing  religion  into  a  young  man's  conscious- 
ness prayer-meeting  end  to."  ^ 

But  some  pastors  who  believe  in  this  work,  urge  that 
their  equipment  is  not  sufficiently  large  and  that  the 
club-room  is  too  expensive.  But  the  club-room  pays 
for  itself.  A  nominal  fee  should  be  charged.  When 
under  the  direction  of  a  Brotherhood  like  that  of  St. 
Andrew  or  the  Andrew  and  Philip,  the  expense  can  be 
covered  from  annual  dues,  possibly  only  five  cents  a 
month.  As  to  the  room,  if  there  is  no  parish-house, 
one  of  the  smaller  Sunday-school  rooms  may  be  used. 
This  is  the  practice  of  many  village  and  even  of  many 
city  churches,  where  architecture  of  a  few  years  ago 
made  no  provision  for  a   young  men's  club. 

Ten  dollars  will  buy  sufficient  games  to  entertain 
fifty  young  men.  As  for  papers  and  periodicals,  mem- 
bers can  usually  be  found  in  a  church  who  are  glad  to 
contribute  yearly  to  reading  matter  or  in  full  for  some 
one  periodical.  The  coffee  and  chocolate  will  be  of 
little  expense.  So  the  club-room  is  within  reach  of  all, 
and  when  in  operation  becomes  the  rallying  point  for 
a  large  work  for  and  by  young  men. 

The  Rev.  Milton  S.  Littlefield,  when  pastor  of  Miz- 
pah  Chapel,  New  York  City,  had  among  other  things 
in  his  successful  work  an  annual  supper  for  the  men 
and  young  men  of  his  congregation.  The  women  of 
the  Chapel  prepared  the  tables  and  prettily  arranged 
them  with  lamps  and  decorations,  and  made  the  room 
bright  and  cheery  in  every  way  possible.  The  supper 
was  donated  in  part  by  the  women  of  the  congrega- 
tion, the  remaining  expense  being  met  by  the  small 

1  The  Judson  Memorial,  p.  10  (reprint  from  "  The  Examiner"). 
17$ 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

charge  of  twenty-five  cents  a  plate.  The  supper  was 
followed  by  "after-talks,"  and  the  result  of  the 
occasion  always  was  an  increasing  hold  of  the 
Chapel  on  the  interests,  sympathies,  and  fidelity  of 
the  male  attendants. 


176 


ATHLETICS. 


CHAPTEK   XXI. 

ATHLETICS. 

We  are  Teaming  that  the  religion  of  Christ  touches  us  in  all  the  parts 
of  our  lives.  Physically,  mentally,  and  spiritually  we  need  strength 
and  development.  .  .  .  Nothing  helps  more  to  make  a  man  thoroughly 
equipped  and  prepared  for  the  battle  of  life  and  usefulness  than  a 
strong,  vigorous,  and  well-balanced  body.  We  cannot  overrate  the 
importance  of  athletics.  .  .  .  As  Christian  men  and  women,  as  Christian 
citizens,  as  Christian  parents,  it  is  our  duty  and  our  privilege  to  sym- 
pathize most  heartily  in  all  this  athletic  work  which  is  making  our  race 
stronger  and  more  vigorous  and  giving  better  life  for  the  future.  It  has 
very  often  been  said  that  a  great  deal  of  bad  theology  has  come  from 
bad  digestion.  The  time  has  long  passed  when  it  was  necessary  that 
a  man  should  be  narrow- shouldered  and  sallow-complexioned  and  sad- 
looking  in  order  to  do  any  work  for  the  Master.  God  has  given  us 
our  body  as  a  magnificent  tool  to  do  his  work  with,  and  it  should 
be  equipped  and  strengthened  and  made  vigorous  in  every  way. 

William  E.  Dodge. 

Athletic  exercise  is  one  of  the  cMef  and  natural 
interests  to  a  boy  from  the  time  he  leaves  the  toys 
and  picture-books  of  the  nursery,  to  the  time  when  he 
is  ready  for  the  serious  business  of  life  and  often  far 
into  the  latter  period.  As  Professor  Henry  Drummond 
says :  "  Sport  commands  his  whole  leisure  and  governs 
his  thoughts  and  ambitions  even  in  his  working  hours. 
And  so  striking  has  been  this  development  in  recent 
years,  and  especially  among  the  young  men  of  the 
larger  cities,  that  the  time  has  come  to  decide  whether 
athletics  are  to  become  a  curse  to  the  country  or  a 
blessing.  That  issue  is  now,  and  in  an  almost  acute 
form,  du-ectly   before   the   country."^     If,   then,   our 

1  Christianity  Practically  Applied,  p.  209. 
12  177 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

boys  and  young  men  have  their  hearts  centred  on 
this  thing,  which  one  of  the  clearest  thinkers  of  the 
times  warns  us  is  liable  to  be  a  "  curse  to  the  country," 
it  becomes  the  duty  of  the  Church  to  focalize  attention 
on  it  that  happily  she  may  turn  the  threatened  ' '  curse  " 
into  the  possible  "blessing." 

Athletics  are  here  to  stay ;  of  this  there  can  be  no 
doubt.  They  have  taken  a  prominent  part  in  our 
American  life,  and  promise  to  take  a  still  larger 
part ;  the  increasing  use  of  the  bicycle  is  at  least  sug- 
gestive of  that.  And  so  long  as  man  is  "in  the  body," 
he  will  have  need  of  exercise.  What  then  is  the  Church 
to  do  about  it?  Crowd  out  and  shut  out  athletics  be- 
yond its  holy  influence  and  restraints,  or  recognize  that 
her  duty  and  concern  is  for  the  whole  man,  —  body  as 
well  as  soul  and  spirit?  "  Know  ye  not,"  said  Paul, 
*'  that  your  body  is  the  temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost?"  ^ 
It  is  because  the  devil  so  often  gets  "the  body  "of 
men  that  he  also  holds  sway  over  soul  and  spirit. 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  by  its  fine 
gymnasiums  has  done  a  great  deal  to  gain  a  hold  on 
young  men  along  this  line.  One  of  the  requisites  for 
a  Physical  Director  in  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association  is  that  he  shall  be  an  earnest  Christian 
man  and  prepared  by  personal  contact  to  win  young 
men  for  Jesus  Christ.  Some  gymnasiums  have  a  corps 
of  volunteer  helpers.  When  a  strange  young  man  comes 
in,  he  is  approached  by  one  of  these  volunteers.  If  not 
familiar  with  the  exercises,  the  helper  tells  him  which 
ones  he  will  do  well  to  undertake  first  and  gives  him 
all  the  assistance  possible  until  he  can  have  the  ser\ices 
of  the  Director.  The  acquaintance  and  feeling  of  good- 
fellowship  thus  established  between  the  two  young  men 
gives  the  Christian  the  best  of  opportunities  to  win 

^  1  Corinthians  vi.  19. 
178 


ATHLETICS. 

the  stranger  into  the  Christian  work  of  the  Associa- 
tion. In  like  manner,  the  church  may  get  hold  of  the 
young  man,  by  going  with  him  into,  and  helping  him 
to  the  means  of  enjoying,  his  favorite  pursuits.  Show 
your  interest  in  a  young  man  in  things  which  innocently 
and  of  necessity  interest  him,  and  you  have  direct 
approach  to  his  heart.  It  is  the  open  door  divinely 
placed  in  every  man's  nature.  And  yet  I  suppose 
some  church-workers  will  continue  to  shut  their  eyes 
to  that  door,  to  cry  "unholy,"  and  thank  "  God  that 
they  are  not  as  other  men  are  " ! 

Chi'istian  influence  in  athletics  would  have  another 
effect,  —  a  purifying  effect.  When  young  men  come 
under  the  guiding  influence  of  the  church  in  their 
athletics,  we  shall  hear  no  more  of  brutality,  betting, 
or  the  introduction  of  the  professional  element.  Julian 
Hawthorne,  in  an  article  entitled  "The  Building  of  the 
Muscle  "  in  Harper's  Magazine  for  August,  1884,  ex- 
presses himself  most  admirably  on  this  point.  He  says  : 
"The  peril  of  all  muscular  cultivation  is  professional- 
ism. .  .  .  Blackguards  are  always  ready  to  rush  in 
where  angels  will  not  take  the  trouble  to  be  present, 
and  brutality  can  be  banished  from  our  palsestrae  just 
as  easily  as  from  our  drawing-rooms  and  by  precisely 
the  same  methods."  It  is  the  presence  of  good  people 
that  will  purify  the  games,  not  their  money,  nor  even 
their  good  wishes,  but  they  themselves. 

In  our  discussion  of  the  subject,  let  us  remember 
that  there  is  real  need  of  aid  for  physical  improvement. 
We  at  once  realize  this  when  we  look  out  upon  the 
poor  of  our  cities,  where  we  find  little  provision  for 
physical  exercise  and  bodily  improvement.  Jacob  Riis 
says,  in  speaking  of  child  life  in  the  tenement  houses : 
"  Sometimes  they  ask  me,  '  What  is  this  all  about,  with 
your  infant  slaughter  in  the  tenements  ?     The  children 

179 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

are  bright  and  strong  to  look  at.'  A  doctor  once  was 
asked  that  question,  and  he  gave  the  only  reasonable 
answer  I  ever  heard.  He  said  :  '  It  is  a  clear  case  of 
the  survival  of  the  fittest.  Only  those  who  are  strong 
as  cattle  can  stand  it.' "  ^  We  may  well  believe  that 
this  is  so.  Born  to  an  environment  of  filth,  surrounded 
by  everything  that  can  be  a  menace  to  health  in  the 
overcrowded  slums,  the  little  bodies  must  indeed  be 
of  the  strongest  to  withstand  the  insidious  foes  on 
every  hand.  In  the  homes  of  the  well  to  do,  the  hours 
from  four  to  six  p.  m.  are  spent  by  the  children,  usually, 
in  play,  and  such  play  takes  the  form,  at  least  in  part, 
of  active  physical  exercise.  In  the  country,  at  the 
school  recesses  there  is  more  or  less  of  vigorous  play, 
but  the  city  child  gets  neither  the  one  nor  the  other  in 
the  tenement  districts.  Dr.  Felix  L.  Oswald  declares 
that  "  nine  tenths  of  our  city  children  are  literally 
starving  for  want  of  recreation. "  ^  But  both  Church 
and  State  have  paid  little  attention  to  that  kind  of 
hunger.  Now,  aside  from  the  account  the  Church  must 
render  for  the  bodies  and  souls  of  these  "little  ones," 
we  need  for  the  sake  of  our  country  and  our  race  to 
give  the  children  that  physical  equipment  essential  to 
highest  thought  and  service.  The  church  may  provide 
some  place  for  recreation  for  boys  and  girls  during  the 
hours  of  the  day  when  they  are  out  of  school.  A  large 
well-ventilated  room  may  be  furnished  with  games  that 
require  active  exercise,  or  possibly  a  play-ground  might 
be  secured,  upon  which  improvements  of  a  temporary 
character  could  be  placed.  Children  are  easily  amused. 
It  takes  little  to  fully  equip  their  playground.  Never 
were  greater  returns  realized  on  so  small  an  invest- 
ment.    They   consist   in  roses   on  pale    cheeks,   firm 

1  Sixth  Convention  Christian  Workers,  Wash.,  B.  C,  1894,  p.  296. 

2  Popular  Science  Monthly,  August,  1881,  p.  455. 

180 


ATHLETICS. 

muscles  developed  from  flabby  ones,  bent  backs  made 
straight,  and  an  aggregate  of  happiness  such  as  only 
childhood  knows. 

But  this  work  of  the  church  will  be  conducted  chiefly 
among  the  lads  and  young  men.  In  the  preceding 
chapter  we  have  seen  the  need  of  diversion  by  our 
young  men.  Many  of  them  in  our  towns  have  occu- 
pations which  do  not  call  for  active  bodily  exercise. 
Even  among  the  working-men  the  invention  of  me- 
chanical appliances  has  done  away  with  much  of  the 
need  for  muscle.  The  cheapness  of  transportation 
and  the  lack  of  physical  vigor  combine  to  make  the 
working-man  prefer  to  ride  to  and  from  his  daily  toil. 
The  result  is  that  nightfall  finds  him  without  proper 
physical  exercise,  though  one  set  of  muscles  may  be 
weary  with  the  day's  labor.  The  sport  instinct  is 
there,  nevertheless,  and  is  gratified  vicariously,  as  he 
reads  the  brutal  details  of  the  prize  fight  or  bets  on 
his  favorite  champion.  It  is  just  here,  in  the  need 
of  harmless  recreation  and  physical  development,  that 
the  church  may  find  the  working-man  and  meet  his 
need  and  reach  his  heart.  The  gymnasium  in  point 
of  usefulness  is  to  be  mentioned  first.  It  can  be  en- 
joyed at  all  seasons  and  can  be  equipped  at  small 
expense.  Dr.  Oswald  tells  us  the  following  appliances 
may  be  made  at  the  aggregate  cost  of  not  more  than 
fifty  dollars :  — 

Spring-board  and  leaping  gauge. 

Inclined  ladder. 

Horizontal  bar. 

Swinging  rings. 

A  vaulting  horse  (rough-hewn). 

Chest  expander  (elastic  band  with  handles). 

Buckets  filled  with  shot  or  pig  iron,  for  health  lif ts.^ 

1  Popular  Science  Monthly,  August,  1881,  p.  455. 
181 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

An  infinite  variety  of  exercises  may  be  performed 
with  these  simple  appliances,  and  they  may  be  added 
to  and  improved  upon  as  the  needs  of  the  gymnasium 
grow,  and  men  are  drawn  in  to  share  in  its  expense. 

Swimming  is  good  athletic  exercise,  and  nothing 
that  the  church  can  put  within  the  reach  of  boys  and 
young  men  will  be  more  appreciated.  Swimming- 
tanks  have  been  put  in  operation  in  the  People's 
Palace  of  the  Jersey  City  Tabernacle,  New  Jersey. 
Long  lines  of  boys  waiting  for  their  chance  to  go  in 
attest  their  appreciation  of  this  neighbor  of  godli- 
ness. In  the  People's  Tabernacle  (Congregational), 
Denver,  Col.,  a  part  of  the  world  where  water 
has  a  decided  market  value,  they  also  maintain  free 
baths.  In  the  beautiful  new  mission-house  of  Grace 
Episcopal  Church,  New  York,  is  a  very  complete 
arrangement  for  plunge  and  shower  baths  for  boys 
and  men. 

There  are  many  among  our  young  men,  however,  who 
do  not  see  the  advantages  of  physical  development,  to 
whom  sport  as  sport  appeals.  We  must  find  some 
way  to  include  them  in  our  plan,  to  sanctify  the  young 
man's  necessity  for  physical  amusement.  T.  Gold 
Frost  pertinently  remarks :  ''  Christianity  does  not 
consider  amusements,  either  indoor  or  outdoor,  to  be 
the  plaything  of  the  devil.  The  real  Christ  is  a  wise 
counsellor,  a  lovable  companion.  He  will  not  rob  you 
of  a  single  cricket  match."  ^  This  is  the  true  attitude 
of  the  church  toward  athletic  games,  and  the  intro- 
duction of  this  idea  among  the  manly  young  fellows  of 
our  country  is  bringing  hosts  of  them  into  the  Kingdom. 
The  reflex  influence,  too,  on  sport  is  already  being  felt. 
"  The  athletic  men  are  learning  to  carry  their  Chris- 
tianity with  them  into  their  sports,  and  as  a  conse-» 

1  AndoTer  Review,  November,  1888. 
182 


ATHLETICS. 

quence  these  are  becoming  more  and  more  characterized 
by  Christian  behavior  and  deportment."  ^ 

Bicycle-riding  is  another  form  of  athletics  that  is 
in  great  favor  with  young  people  at  the  present  time. 
Harmless  in  most  cases  and  of  positive  benefit  in 
others,  the  bicycle  is  a  great  source  of  Sabbath-break- 
ing. Christian  young  men  may  do  a  great  deal  of 
good  by  organizing  bicycle  clubs  which  by  their  rules 
either  prohibit  Sunday  riding  or  at  least  restrict  it  so 
that  it  shall  not  interfere  with  church  duties.  Tennis, 
golf,  baseball,  football,  rowing,  swimming,  gym- 
nastics, and  other  innocent  and  manly  exercises  and 
diversions  may  become  weapons  in  the  armory  of  our 
God.  The  presence  of  good  people  will  banish  the 
evils  which  now  threaten  athletics.  No  betting 
or  gambling  can  take  place  where  the  spirit  of 
Christ  reigns,  and  even  professionalism  will  perish  for 
lack  of  countenance.  The  reign  of  pure  athletics  will 
be  begun,  the  kind  that  Paul  tells  about  through  all  his 
epistles  :  elevating,  for  it  makes  the  ' '  man  temperate 
in  all  things,"  and  "  brings  the  bod}^  into  subjection  ;  " 
conscientious,  for  it  has  due  regard  to  the  "  cloud  of 
witnesses"  in  earth  and  heaven,  and  "  runs  with 
patience  the  race  that  is  set  before  it ;  "  thrice  blessed, 
for  the  end  is  coming  "into  a  perfect  man,  unto  the 
measure  of  the  stature  of  the  fulness  of  Christ.''" 

1  Andover  Review,  November,  1888. 


183 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 


CHAPTER  XXIL 

CHURCH  LIBRARIES,    READING-ROOMS,    LITERARY 
SOCIETIES,    AND   ENTERTAINMENT  COURSES. 

"Reading  maketb  a  full  man."  Did  Bacon  mean 
the  ephemeral  literature  of  the  newspaper  or  the  sen- 
sational novel?  Verily,  the  diet  of  the  prodigal  son 
in  the  far  country  contained  as  much  nourishment. 
And  yet,  unless  good  people  help  the  world  to  a  taste 
for  something  better,  the  great  majority  will  continue 
to  feed  on  "husks,"  leaving  untouched  the  better  por- 
tion, even,  of  the  daily  press.  What  are  the  means 
the  church  may  use  to  cultivate  a  better  taste? 

1.  Libraries  and  Reading -Rooms.  It  is  appro- 
priate that  the  church  have  a  library  and  reading- 
room;  something  more,  too,  than  the  Sunday-school 
library;  appropriate  that  the  church  encourage  her 
people  to  read,  and  to  read  that  which  is  "worth 
while."  To  this  end  let  there  be  a  wise  selection  by 
a  competent  committee  of  the  best  fiction,  scientific 
research,  travels,  history,  biography,  and  other  stand- 
ard works.  A  book  on  animals  or  the  steam-engine, 
with  attractive  letter-press  and  captivating  illustra- 
tions, will  prove  a  treasure  to  a  bright  boy,  from 
which  not  even  the  "Adventures  of  Tom  Sawyer" 
can  draw  him.  The  same  rule  applies  to  children  of 
a  larger  growth.  Another  feature  which  increases 
the  usefulness  of  a  church  library  is  to  make  of  it  a 
working  library.     Every  family  is  not  well  equipped 

184 


LIBRARIES   AND   READING-ROOMS. 

with  atlases  and  encyclopedias.  Every  household  has 
not  an  abundance  of  missionary  literature,  and  some 
have  not  any.  Such  a  collection  of  books  may  be  of 
great  value  in  the  preparation  of  articles  for  the  mis- 
sionary meeting  or  young  people's  society.  There 
should  be  a  committee  whose  business  it  is  to  keep 
advised  as  to  new  and  useful  books. 

Many  churches  have  a  reading-room  connected  with 
the  library,  open  certain  hours  of  every  day,  as  the 
library  is  open  certain  times  during  the  week.  Along 
the  reference  line  these  reading-rooms  have  subscrip- 
tions to  various  missionary  and  general  religious 
papers.  To  foster  the  taste  for  the  educational  books 
on  the  shelves,  the  best  scientific  and  literarj^  maga- 
zines are  supplied,  while  bright-colored  prints  and 
reputable  newspapers  are  not  excluded. 

In  some  States  there  is  little  need  of  church  libra- 
ries. In  New  York  and  Massachusetts,  for  instance, 
many  a  hamlet  has  its  public  library,  while  in  Cali- 
fornia the  admirable  provision  made  for  school  libra- 
ries supplies  an  abundance  of  first-class  reading 
matter.  But  all  States  are  not  so  fortunate,  and  the 
church  has  the  opportunity  of  meeting  this  need. 

The  location  of  the  library  and  reading-room  is  a 
matter  of  importance.  It  will  be  shorn  of  much  use- 
fulness if  tucked  away  in  some  garret  corner.  The 
reading-room  should,  if  possible,  have  a  street  en- 
trance, and  be  adorned  with  a  modest  sign  proclaim- 
ing its  useful  mission.  It  is  a  mistake  to  believe 
that  people  know  all  about  our  church.  Both  we  and 
ours  are  not  always  of  consequence  to  other  people. 

Rev.  Russell  H.  Conwell,  D.D.,  thus  tells  of  the 
development  of  the  reading-room  in  his  church,  Grace 
Baptist  Temple,  Philadelphia:  *'Our  reading-room 
consisted   of   one  room   and   one   paper  in  the  first 

185 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

place,  and  it  is  entirely  a  case  of  Christian  evolution. 
Years  ago,  after  our  prayer  meeting,  it  was  our  habit 
to  put  out  the  gas  at  once  and  send  the  people  home. 
We  forgot  that  Christ's  way  of  teaching  was  largely  a 
social  way.  .  .  .  Now  we  keep  the  whole  church  open 
as  long  as  people  wish  to  stop  and  carry  on  a  Chris- 
tian conversation.  We  had  then  a  little  room,  to 
which  I  referred,  open,  with  one  paper  in  it;  after- 
ward some  friends  brought  it  some  other  papers, 
because  people  liked  to  stop  and  read  the  Christian 
news  who  did  not  take  a  Christian  paper,  among  the 
poorer  people  as  well  as  among  the  better  classes. 
From  that  one  paper,  by  adding  one  at  a  time,  with- 
out any  plan  laid  or  great  committee,  but  steadily 
adding  one  more  and  one  more,  we  have  gone  on  till 
now  we  have  five  different  reading-rooms.  ...  It  is 
just  simply  going  on  doing  the  next  thing,  till  now 
our  reading-rooms  are  open  all  da}^  and  in  the  even 
ing,  and  the  men  and  women  come  and  go  as  they  see 
fit,  and  nearly  all  are  accumulating  quite  extensive 
libraries."  ^ 

In  the  Episcopal  churches  there  are  Church  Periodi- 
cal Clubs.  In  the  1894  Annual  Report  of  St.  George's 
Church,  New  York,  we  read:  ''  There  are  now  twelve 
hundred  clergymen,  besides  numerous  laymen  and 
missionaries  who  are  the  beneficiaries  of  the  Club, 
most  of  whom  are  receiving  regularly  one  or  more 
magazines  or  papers  which  they  could  not  otherwise 
enjoy.  Most  of  these  are  living  in  the  West,  or  no 
less  destitute  South,  far  away  from  any  contact  with 
the  fresh  thought  of  the  larger  cities.  The  arrival  of 
an  attractive  current  magazine  is  one  of  the  greatest 
pleasures  of  their  lives,  —  lives  so  meagrely  supplied 

1  Seventh  Annual  Convention  of  Christian  Workers,  Boston, 
1892,  p.  98. 

186 


LITERARY   SOCIETIES. 

with  iDtellectual  pleasures."  This  society  also  sends 
out  Bibles,  Prayer-books,  and  Hymnals,  with  scrap- 
books,  calendars,  text  cards,  Christmas  and  Easter 
cards.  Is  not  here  an  example  worth  following,-  — 
this  sending  the  benefits  of  the  reading-room  beyond 
the  bounds  of  the  individual  church? 

2.  Literary  Societies.  Literary  societies  form 
a  very  suitable  part  of  the  forces  of  a  well-organized 
church.  The  Chautauqua  Circle  is  a  very  practicable 
plan  to  follow.  No  better  course  of  reading  for  the 
purpose  can  be  obtained  anywhere.  The  books  are 
by  eminent  writers,  the  cost  is  reasonable,  and  a 
high  moral  and  religious  tone  breathes  through  all. 
Several  sets  of  the  books  can  profitably  be  placed  in 
the  reading-room,  and  at  the  disposal  of  the  members 
of  the  Circle  for  their  daily  hour's  reading.  This 
relieves  those  who  do  not  feel  able  to  purchase  the 
books.  There  may  be  one  or  more  sets  on  the  library 
shelves  to  be  loaned  under  certain  restrictions  for 
prompt  return,  but  the  better  plan  is  to  confine  most 
of  the  books  to  reading-room  use. 

In  the  Delaware  Avenue  Baptist  Church,  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.,  is  a  literary  society,  called  the  Gradgrind 
Club.  It  has  the  following  quaint  substitute  for  a 
constitution:  — 

The  Appellative  Fact :  The  name  of  this  Club  shall  be 
the  Gradgrind  Club. 

.  The  Intentional  Fact:  The  object  of  this  Club  shall  be 
the  search  for  facts,  —  historical,  literary,  artistic,  social, 
political,  moral,  and  intellectual. 

The  Administrative  Facts  :  The  officers  of  the  Club  shall 
be  a  President,  a  Vice-President,  a  Secretary,  and  a  Treas- 
m-er,  elected  annually,  whose  duties  shall  be  such  as  are 
usually  performed  by  such  factotums. 

The  Dictational  Facts:  An  Executive  Board,  consisting 
187 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

of  five  members  appointed  by  the  President,  shall  have 
entire  charge  of  the  programme  for  the  year. 

The  Personal  Facts  :  The  membership  of  the  Club  shall  be 
limited  to  all  members  of  the  congregation  of  the  Delaware 
Avenue  Baptist  Church,  and  twenty-five  outside  members. 

The  Necessary  Fact :  The  annual  dues  shall  be  one  dollar. 

Additional  Facts :  By-laws  and  changes  to  the  Constitu- 
tion may  be  made  as  becomes  necessary. 

This  Club  meets  from  October  to  March,  having 
twelve  meetings,  at  intervals  of  two  weeks.  Two  of 
these  meetings  have  a  social  character,  —  the  mid- 
winter meeting  and  the  annual  meeting,  held  the  last 
of  March.  The  other  ten  are  devoted  to  some  subject 
of  study.  The  season  of  1895-96  was  devoted  to  the 
study  of  America,  with  papers,  talks,  and  discussions. 
Here  is  an  example  of  real  live  educational  work 
under  the  direct  charge  of  the  Church. 

A  debate  is  also  a  pleasant  feature  of  literary 
societies.  It  fosters  intellectual  growth  when  mind 
meets  mind  in  discussion,  and  there  is  nothing  better 
than  a  debate  to  bring  out  the  best  in  our  young  peo- 
ple. The  Chatham  Literary  Union  of  Grace  Church, 
Philadelphia,  is  the  largest  debating  society  in  this 
country.  It  has  an  average  attendance  of  seven  hun- 
dred and  fifty,  and  holds  public  debates  with  free 
admission.  To  quote  from  Dr.  Dager:  "There  is  a 
work  to  be  accomplished  by  such  societies  that  is 
needed  in  every  church.  .  .  .  Many  a  young  man 
would  testify  for  the  Master  more  frequently  if  he. 
were  more  confident  of  his  language  and  his  self-con- 
trol before  people.  What  can  help  them  along  this 
line  like  the  literary  society?  Experience  everywhere 
attests  that  the  literary  society  benefits  the  cause  that 
is  dearest  to  our  hearts  by  teaching  the  young  men, 
who  are  too  often  accustomed  to  sneak  away  in  silence 

188 


ENTERTAINMENT  COURSES. 

from  the  shallow  statements  and  flimsy  arguments  of 
unbelief  that  meet  them  in  elaily  life,  how  in  word  to 
meet  life's  common  scepticisms,  how  to  express  the 
claims  of  their  Divine  Master.  If  the  Church  of 
Christ  needs  trained  intellects  and  ready  speakers, 
let  her  foster  the  literary  societies."  ^ 

Many  churches  in  cities  are  conducting  large  and 
successful  literary  societies ;  but  the  village  and  coun- 
try church  is  usually,  I  believe,  more  successful  in 
this  work.  The  work  of  the  Winter  Night  College, 
Ravenna,  O.,  an  account  of  which  is  given  in 
Chapter  XXIIL,  is  an  illustration  of  what  the  village 
can  do.  The  country  and  village  church  does  not 
suffer  the  counter-attractions  that  the  city  church 
suffers.  Literary  work  is  a  happy  diversion,  gives 
something  to  do,  feeds  and  stimulates  the  mind,  trains 
and  develops.  Public  exercises  of  a  varied  pro- 
gramme, recitations,  essays,  and  debates,  will  add  to 
the  interest  and  the  helpfulness  of  this  work. 

3.  Entertainment  Courses.  Educational  work 
is  further  prosecuted  by  means  of  lecture  and  enter- 
tainment courses.  This  work,  which  is  now  being  so 
helpfully  carried  on  by  many  churches,  is  not  the 
old-time  entertainment  for  revenue  only.  Truly,  we 
have  had  quite  enough  of  that.  Pity  it  is  that  some 
churches  have  reasoned,  "How  much  money  can  we 
make  out  of  this  thing?"  rather  than  "How  much 
good  can  we  do  this  people?  What  are  their  needs? 
Can  we  direct  their  minds  to  nobler  things,  give 
them  pure  and  helpful  enjoyments,  lift  them  by 
any  and  all  means  to  a  higher  life?  "  It  is  a  travesty 
on  religion  and  common-sense  to  preach,  "Don't  go 
to  the  theatre,  don't  play  cards,  keep  away  from  the 
ball,"  and  not  put  something  better  in  their  places. 

1  Modem  Temple  and  Templars,  by  Robert  J.  Burdette,  p.  239. 
189 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

It  is  well  that  we  remember  the  story  told  by  Jesus 
of  the  evil  spirit  which  was  driven  out  of  a  man,  but 
returned  again,  and  finding  the  house  of  the  soul 
swept  and  garnished  entered  in,  taking  with  him 
seven  other  spirits  worse  than  himself,  because  the 
house  was  empty.  The  ideal  church  lecture  and  en- 
tertainment course  excludes  the  idea  of  profit.  The 
proposition  is  to  give  to  the  congregation  and  to  the 
community  the  very  best  possible  entertainment  at 
the  least  possible  expense. 

The  value  of  entertainments  of  an  uplifting  order 
has  long  been  admitted.  The  question  is  how  to 
bring  them  closest  to  the  lives  of  the  people.  A 
course  of  entertainments  scattered  through  the  winter 
at  regular  intervals,  each  advertising  all  the  others,  is 
better  than  sporadic  efforts  that  spring  up  occasion- 
ally. The  announcement  of  the  course  also  enables 
people  to  plan  ahead  to  attend  them.  And  the  people 
will  attend  if  the  lectures  are  of  such  character  as  to 
make  it  worth  their  while.  The  greatest  care,  there- 
fore, should  be  exercised  in  the  selection  of  the  lec- 
turers and  entertainments.  Keep  the  standard  high! 
But  let  it  be  remembered  that  there  is  a  difference 
between  keeping  the  standard  high  and  presenting  a 
programme  that  is  dry.  It  is  not  surprising  that  a 
New  York  Fifth  Avenue  Church  which  secured  a  scien- 
tific lecturer  for  a  course  of  "scientific  "  lectures,  and 
announced  that  the  lectures  would  be  free,  had  an  audi- 
ence of  from  twelve  to  fifteen  people.  The  wheat  of 
summer  under  one  breath  of  sun  may  burst  into  dashes 
of  gold;  but  scientific  minds  are  like  rare  flowers  that 
demand  peculiar  climate  and  long  training. 

How  can  good  entertainments  be  given  at  small 
cost  to  the  public,  and  still  keep  the  expense  within 
the  reach  of   the  church?      Several  churches  in  one 

190 


ENTERTAINMENT   COURSES. 

city,  in  different  parts  of  town,  or  several  village 
churches  in  neighboring  towns,  may  combine  to  have 
the  same  course  during  a  season.  This  plan  is  now 
in  operation  in  a  number  of  places.  The  result  is  a 
great  saving  of  expense.  The  talent  from  abroad, 
by  reason  of  securing  a  series  of  engagements,  and 
where  proximity  reduces  expense,  are  williug  to  come 
much  cheaper.  Again,  some  of  the  best  talent  will 
cheerfully  be  contributed  for  the  asking.  There  are 
many  benevolent  men  like  a  leading  college  presi- 
dent, who  said  that  "wherever  in  the  United  States 
a  goodly  number  of  people  wanted  him  to  come  and 
address  them,  he  felt  it  his  duty  and  privilege  to  go, 
simply  on  condition  of  having  his  expenses  paid." 

The  stereopticon  lecture  is  always  instructive  and 
enjoyable.  With  the  list  of  views  and  conveniences 
furnished  by  opticians,  even  the  busy  pastor  can 
easily  prepare  a  fascinating  and  instructive  lecture 
which  can  be  given  at  little  expense. 

The  Madison  Avenue  Presbyterian  Church  of  New 
York,  and  Berkeley  Temple,  Boston,  have  given  a 
very  high  grade  of  entertainments,  perfectly  self- 
supporting,  for  ten  cents  admission,  even,  sometimes, 
six  tickets  for  fifty  cents.  The  course  of  entertain- 
ments, in  addition  to  meeting  a  real  need,  is  invalu- 
able in  reaching  non-church-goers,  and  so  helping  to 
win  them  to  Christ.  Dr.  Dickinson  thus  explains  the 
Berkeley  Temple  plan:  "We  have  a  system  of  compli- 
mentary tickets,  and  have  distributed,  in  the  aggre- 
gate, to  thirty  thousand  people,  and  have  found  by  this 
means  that  six  thousand  did  not  attend  church  any- 
where. .  .  .  We  know  where  our  tickets  go,  and  can 
tell,  almost  in  detail,  the  history  of  some  of  the  fami- 
lies. .  .  .  For  instance,  Tuesday  night  we  send  out  from 
three  hundred  to  five  hundred  complimentary  tickets; 

191 


MODERN  METHODS  JN  CHURCH  WORK. 

we  receive  some  of  these  tickets  at  the  door,  and  some 
one  will  be  set  to  keep  track  of  the  users  of  these 
tickets,  and  of  the  families,  and  how  they  are  sent. 
It  is  one  of  the  students  of  the  theological  seminary 
who  takes  charge  of  this,  and  Wednesday  he  finds, 
approximately,  who  used  them.  Let  us  take  one.  It 
was  numbered  '  2  '  on  the  back,  and  was  issued  to 
John  W.  Elcline,  the  register  shows,  because  his 
name  is  opposite  No.  2,  in  the  corner.  ...  As  a  re- 
sult, we  have  reached  more  non-church-going  people, 
and  have  received  them  into  the  church  doors,  and  into 
our  church-membership,  than  by  any  other  means. 
We  did  not  suppose  it  would  work  at  first,  but  we 
reached  their  hearts,  and  we  have  got  some  of  our 
most  active  Christian  men  and  women  into  the  church, 
who  were  first  attracted  by  the  entertainments  and 
complimentary-ticket  system."  ^ 

The  Madison  Avenue  Presbyterian  Church,  New 
York,  distributes  complimentary  tickets  to  non-church- 
goers through  the  medium  of  the  church-members. 
Each  is  requested  to  give  a  ticket  to  some  one  who  is 
not  a  regular  church  attendant.  The  ticket  gives  the 
dates  and  subjects  for  the  entire  course,  and  bears  the 
following  note:  "  This  ticket  will  admit  the  bearer  to 
any  one  of  the  above  entertainments.  By  writing 
your  name  and  address  below,  a  ticket  will  be  mailed 
you,  free  of  charge,  admitting  you  to  all  the  enter- 
tainments of  the  above  course."  The  return  of  the 
ticket  shows  that  the  recipient  is  interested,  and,  fol- 
lowing up  the  case,  often  results  in  securing  him  as  a 
loyal  adherent  to  the  church. 

Thus,  concert,  lecture,  stereopticon  entertainment, 

or  reading  may  become  powerful  in  the  hands  of  the 

consecrated  servants  of  the  Lord  in  winning  souls  to 

1  Christianity  Practically  Applied,  pp.  29,  30. 

192 


ENTERTAINMENT  COURSES. 

him.  It  is  not  so  much  the  means  as  the  spirit  that 
is  back  of  them.  It  takes  time,  patience,  and  grace 
to  perfect  and  carry  out  an  entertainment  course  and 
follow  it  up  with  personal  effort.  But  when  a  church 
and  pastor  are  so  endued  with  the  Spirit  as  to  be  will- 
ing to  undertake  this  great  labor  of  love,  the  fulfil- 
ment of  the  promise  follows  as  night  the  day,  —  "in 
due  season  we  shall  reap,  if  we  faint  not."  ^ 

1  Galatians  vi.  9. 


13  193 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 


CHAPTEK    XXIII. 

TEACHING  BY  MEANS  OF  CLASSES. 

There  is  no  wealth  but  life:  life  includmg  all  its  powers  of  love 
and  joy  and  admiration.  That  country  is  richest  which  nourishes 
the  greatest  number  of  noble  and  happy  human  beings;  that  man  is 
the  richest  who,  having  perfected  the  functions  of  his  own  life  to  the 
utmost,  has  also  the  widest  helpful  influence,  both  personal  and  by 
means  of  his  possessions,  over  the  lives  of  others.  —  Ruskin. 

There  are  many  reasons  why  the  church  should  enter 
upon  the  work  of  teaching.  It  is  one  way  of  "doing 
good."  Then,  too,  there  is  sore  need  of  it  in  almost 
every  community.  Even  the  Bible  is  of  little  value 
to  those  persons  who  cannot  read.  Every  one  is  the 
better  for  education,  —  we  all  know  that.  But  the 
fact  is  that  many  people  are  not  able  to  secure  the  ad- 
vantages which  education  gives.  They  have  not  the 
means  to  pay  for  instruction,  neither  have  they  the 
courage,  when  old  enough  to  realize  their  deficiency, 
to  undertake  the  task  of  self-improvement.  The  time 
of  compulsory  attendance  on  the  schools  is  not  long, 
and  thereafter  many  children  must  help  to  sustain 
the  meagre  home.  Many  a  poor  boy,  like  George 
Stephenson  and  David  Livingstone,  cannot  study 
without  the  evening  school;  and  many  in  moderate 
circumstances  will  not  be  persuaded  to  improve  the 
mind  unless  the  chance  to  study  be  given  at  little 
cost.  Why  should  not  the  church  help  them?  To 
aid  them  in  their  education  is  doing  no  more  than 
every  minister  and  college  graduate  has  had  done  for 

194 


TEACHING  BY  MEANS  OF  CLASSES. 

him,  since  tuition  is  a  small  part  of  the  cost  of  col- 
lege instruction.  To  help  the  poor  to  something  of 
an  education  is  one  of  the  best  ways,  also,  of  helping 
them  to  help  themselves.  Clearly,  this  is  a  benevo- 
lence above  criticism,  as  well  as  a  work  of  urgent 
need.  Again,  the  church  may  obtain  great  influence 
over  both  old  and  young  by  serving  them  in  this 
way.  When  the  church  shows  a  hearty  interest  in 
the  people  around  her,  it  is  sure  to  be  appreciated, 
and  will  enlist  returning  interest,  sympathy,  and 
effort,  in  Christian  work. 

Night  classes  for  adults  may  be  held  where  the  com- 
mon branches  —  reading,  writing,  arithmetic,  geog- 
raphy, grammar,  and  spelling  —  are  taught.  Other 
branches,  too,  should  not  be  neglected.  To  furnish 
a  young  person  with  a  working  knowledge  of  book- 
keeping or  typewriting,  and  stenography,  puts  him 
in  a  position  where  he  can  make  his  own  way,  and 
therefore  is  as  much  better  than  a  gift  of  money  as 
anything  that  is  a  part  of  one's  mental  furnishing  is 
better  than  any  external  thing.  Drawing,  too,  may 
be  used  in  so  many  of  the  vocations  of  life  that  a 
knowledge  of  it  is  one  of  the  best  gifts  the  church 
can  bestow.  When  a  church  earnestly  sets  herself  to 
this  work,  the  way  will  open  before  her.  She  will 
find  among  her  members  and  friends  those  who  will 
lend  themselves  to  promoting  the  enterprise.  Volun- 
teer teachers  will  appear,  and  many  in  the  congrega- 
tion, who  appreciate  what  education  has  done  for 
them,  or  how  they  have  been  handicapped  by  its  lack, 
will  help  on  the  good  cause.  In  Berkeley  Temple, 
Boston,  there  is  such  a  work.  Dr.  Dickinson,  the 
pastor,  in  speaking  of  the  various  branches  taught 
in  his  church,  says:  "Every  one  of  these  classes  at 
present  is  under  the  instruction  of   our  own  church 

195 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

people.  We  insist  that  when  a  teacher  takes  a  class 
he  takes  it  with  the  understanding  that  he  is  expected 
to  bring  a  part  or  all  of  his  class  to  Christ."  ^ 

This  is  but  the  beginning  of  a  work  that  may  be 
carried  on  almost  indefinitely,  even  to  the  extent  of 
founding  an  educational  institution,  as  some  of  the 
churches  have  done.  Under  the  charge  of  Bethany 
Presbyterian  Church,  Philadelphia,  is  Bethany  Col- 
lege. This  college,  through  its  six  comprehensive 
departments,  offers  "a  liberal  and  practical  education 
to  all  that  are  desirous  of  availing  themselves  of  it." 
Then  there  is  Armour  Institute,  of  Chicago,  with  its 
six  departments,  the  outgrowth  of  Armour  Mission, 
"founded  for  the  purpose  of  giving  to  young  men  and 
women  the  opportunity  of  securing  a  liberal  educa- 
tion." Grace  Baptist  Temple,  in  Philadelphia,  has 
founded  the  Temple  College,  —  a  splendid  educational 
institution  of  ten  departments.  This  college  has  also 
six  academies  in  different  parts  of  Philadelphia,  and 
one  in  Camden,  N.  J.,  so  that  the  college  is  in 
walking  distance,  practically,  of  all  Philadelphia. 
This  is  a  great  saving  of  time  and  car  fare  to  the 
poorer  students,  and  enables  and  encourages  many  to 
attend  who  otherwise  could  not.  The  night  schools 
connected  with  this  institution  give  a  much  more 
liberal  education  than  the  ordinary  night  school,  as 
they  prepare  young  people  for  college.  The  day 
schools  have  a  higher  rate  of  tuition  than  the  night 
schools,  but  any  person  who  works  at  night,  a  night 
watchman,  for  instance,  is  admitted  to  the  day  school 
at  night-school  rates. 

The  description  of  these  colleges  for  higher  educa- 
tion may  bring  little  comfort  to  churches  which  are 

^  Fourth  Animal  Couvention  of  Christian  Workers,  Buffalo, 
N.Y.,  1889,  p.  57. 

196 


TEACHING  BY  MEANS  OF   CLASSES. 

only  in  moderate  circumstances ;  but  the  Rev.  W.  G. 
Schoppe,  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  of 
Ravenna,  O.,  has  proven  that  an  educational  insti- 
tution of  a  high  order  can  be  carried  on  successfully 
at  little  cost.  Mr.  Schoppe  calls  this  institution  the 
"Winter  Night  College."  It  was  started  in  the  fall 
of  1895.  The  following  prospectus,  which  was  printed 
and  posted  in  the  shops  and  stores  of  Ravenna,  gives 
an  outline  of  the  plan  of  the  college:  — 

The  Winter  Night  College  of  Ravenna. 

Sessions  are  held  each  Wednesday  evening  in  the  parlors 
of  the  Congregational  Church  from  7.30  to  9  p.  m. 

Circles  have  been  organized  in  French,  German,  Civil 
Government,  English  Literature,  and  Current  Events. 

Four  members  can  start  a  circle  in  any  branch  of  study. 

Weekly  sessions  will  be  held  until  April. 

Entrance  fee  to  any  circle,  fifty  cents. 

Every  one  invited  to  join  us. 

The  best  literary  minds  of  the  little  city  volun- 
teered to  lead  circles  in  their  special  line.  The  diu- 
ing-tables  of  the  church  were  covered  with  bright 
cloths,  and  each  circle  gathered  around  a  table,  and, 
under  the  guidance  of  its  leader,  discussed  the  topic 
previously  announced. 

At  precisely  half-past  seven  o'clock,  the  session  is 
opened  by  music  given  in  an  informal  way.  This  is 
followed  by  a  twenty-minute  essay  on  a  subject  of 
interest,  by  some  person  of  known  ability  in  the  town 
or  vicinity.  These  preliminary  exercises  are  open  to 
the  public,  who  may  retire  at  the  close  or  remain  to 
join  a  circle,  or  to  read  at  a  long  table  near  the  en- 
trance, which  is  loaded  with  the  best  magazines  and 
periodicals  loaned  by  the  people  after  a  week's  use  at 
home.      The  regular   session  is  from  eight  to  nine 

197 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

o'clock.  The  discussions  are  as  free  and  informal 
as  possible  without  disturbance  of  the  work.  Often 
crowds  of  young  men  are  at  the  reading-table,  but  all 
is  quiet  and  orderly. 

The  college,  though  started  by  the  Congregational 
Church,  and  having  its  pastor  as  president,  is  un- 
denominational, and  the  other  officers  were  chosen 
from  different  churches.  The  President,  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Secretary,  and  Treasurer,  and  three  members  at 
large,  appointed  by  the  President,  form  the  Execu- 
tive Committee.  They  secure  the  leaders  and  attend 
to  the  general  business  of  the  college. 

The  plan  of  the  Winter  Night  College,  so  simple, 
so  flexible,  so  economical,  cannot  but  commend  itself 
to  the  church,  especially  in  smaller  towns  and  cities. 
In  fact,  committees  from  towns  near  Ravenna  have 
visited  the  college,  and  have  been  so  favorably  im- 
pressed with  it  that  similar  institutions  have  been 
planned  for  another  season. 

Mr.  Schoppe  gives  us  the  following  points  in  favor 
of  this  movement.  It  has  organized  the  literary 
forces  of  the  place.  It  has  inspired  a  literary  taste 
where  before  it  was  unknown.  Its  popular  features 
are  fitted  to  make  it  a  success.  And  he  adds:  "Not 
least  among  the  results  in  our  town  is  a  common 
admission  that  never  before  have  so  many  of  the 
business  men  been  so  favorably  disposed  toward  the 
work  of  the  church.  .  .  .  And  many  people  say  they 
have  established  the  habit  of  coming  to  the  church 
building,  and  the  desire  has  grown  upon  them." 

Such  institutions  may  be  equally  successful  in  any 
community  where  the  poor  are,  —  and  where  are  they 
not?  —  and  in  any  place  where  the  literary  ability  is 
not  organized  but  undeveloped.  In  the  country  and 
smaller  villages  a  reading-circle  may  enroll  all  who 

198 


TEACHING  BY  MEANS  OF  CLASSES. 

Gould  be  induced  to  study;  but  in  most  places  there 
will  be  found  a  great  need  for  this  kind  of  work, 
and  the  church  should  prove  herself  equal  to  the 
emergency. 

In  conclusion,  we  would  quote  the  strong  words 
of  Mr.  Schoppe  :  "It  is  a  part  of  the  church's  work 
to  promote  broadest  Christian  culture,  and  the  best 
method  of  controlling  frivolity  is  to  put  something 
better  in  its  place."  It  may  also  be  said  that  by  this 
means  we  shall  beat  paths  to  our  church  doors,  "estab- 
lish the  habit  of  coming  to  the  church  building,"  give 
the  people  to  feel  that  the  church  is  their  friend,  — 
ready  to  meet  their  varied  needs,  —  and  so,  step  by 
step,  we  shall  win  and  lead  them  unto  Him  "in  whom 
are  hid  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and  knowledge."* 

^  ColoBsians  ii.  3. 


J  99 


MODERN  METHODS  iN    CHUKCH  WOKK. 


CHAPTEE  XXIV. 

women's  work. 

A  LARGE  and  constantly  increasing  part  of  the  work  of 
the  church  is  being  done  by  women.  "Phoebe,  our 
sister,  the  servant  of  the  church,"  is  being  multiplied 
many  times  in  these  latter  days. 

The  work  of  the  women,  ever  before  the  eyes  of 
the  church,  showing  a  faithfulness  and  competence 
which  men  may  well  emulate,  needs  but  brief  mention 
and  outline  here.  In  most  churches  woman's  work 
covers  three  distinct  branches:  Ladies'  Aid  Society, 
Women's  Home  and  Women's  Foreign  Missionary 
Societies.  In  many  churches,  however,  there  is  but 
one  comprehensive  women's  organization,  the  various 
departments  of  work  being  covered  by  committees, 
which  are  in  the  nature  of  auxiliary  societies. 

In  the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Detroit, 
Mich.,  there  are  four  committees, — Foreign  and 
Home  Missions,  Church  Aid  Committee,  and  Com- 
mittee on  Local  Charities.  One  Tuesday  in  the 
month  is  the  business  meeting,  when  Church  Aid  has 
the  largest  place;  one  Tuesday  is  devoted  each  to  the 
Foreign  and  Home  work,  while  the  remaining  Tues- 
days are  devoted  to  such  work  or  entertainment  as 
may  be  planned  by  the  Executive  Committee.  The 
Immanuel  Presbyterian  Church  of  Los  Angeles, 
Cal.,  pursues  a  different  plan.  The  Aid  Society 
continues  as  a  separate  organization,  but  the  Home 
and  Foreign  Missionary  Societies   have   been   made 

200 


WOMEN'S  WORK. 

into  one  general  missionary  society.  The  work  is 
done  by  committees,  —  Home,  Foreign,  Freedmen, 
Literature,  Mission  Boxes,  and  Social  Committees. 
The  chairman  of  each  committee,  with  the  President 
and  Treasurer  of  the  contingent  fund,  constitute  the 
Executive  Committee.  Each  committee  has  its  own 
treasurer,  as  the  funds  are  to  be  kept  separate,  and 
each  member  of  the  society  subscribes  to  the  work  of 
as  many  committees  as  she  feels  able.  No  fee  is 
required  for  joining  the  missionary  society.  It  is 
an  understood  thing  that  every  woman  in  Immanuel 
Church  belongs  to  it.  The  meetings  are  held  during 
an  entire  day  once  a  month,  the  Home  work  alternat- 
ing with  the  Foreign  in  the  morning  or  afternoon 
exercises,  a  half-day  being  devoted  to  each.  The 
Social  Committee  has  charge  of  providing  out  of  the 
contingent  fund  coffee  for  the  midday  lunch,  and 
each  lady  brings  lunch  for  two;  this  provides  for 
new-comers  and  strangers  who  may  be  present. 

Whatever  plan  is  adopted,  one  thing  must  be  clearly 
borne  in  mind :  the  work  of  missions  is  one.  Every 
Home-mission  worker  should  be  in  heart  also  a 
Foreign-mission  worker,  and  every  Foreign-mission 
worker  a  Home-mission  worker.  For  convenience 
and  stimulus  through  a  reasonable  competition,  it 
may  be  well  to  have  different  societies  for  Home  and 
Foreign  missionary  work.  But  we  must  not  forget 
our  responsibility  for  all  this  work.  Jesus  Christ 
said  nothing  about  home  missions,  and  said  nothing 
about  foreign  missions.  His  command  to  his  disci- 
ples was  to  go  into  all  the  world  and  preach  the  gospel 
to  every  creature.  That  is  our  commission,  nothing 
less.  Any  method  that  unifies  missions  and  prevents 
that  feeling  of  rivalry  which  sometimes  exists  between 
the  two  branches  is  to  be  welcomed. 

201 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

Interest  in  missions  may  be  cultivated  in  several 
ways.  It  is  of  great  value  to  keep  in  touch  with  the 
Boards  of  the  Church  by  following  the  news  and 
needs  of  the  field.  To  this  end  subscriptions  to  mis- 
sionary publications  should  be  encouraged.  Again, 
much  more  will  be  accomplished  by  having  some 
definite  object  to  work  for.  This  is  within  reach  of 
the  very  poorest  church  when  a  native  teacher  in 
Ceylon  may  be  hired  for  $25  per  year.  Even  the 
poor  Christian  natives  of  that  country  are  supporting 
thirty  missionaries. 

2.  The  Aid  Society  work  has  such  scope  that 
every  woman  in  the  church  may  share  in  it,  and  the 
society  is  an  excellent  introduction  for  a  new-comer 
into  the  church  life.  In  the  Park  Congregational 
Church  of  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  this  society  is  called 
"United  Workers."  There  are  two  hundred  in  the 
organization.  They  are  divided  into  tens.  Their 
work  is  that  of  the  ordinary  Aid  Society,  but  they 
have  also  undertaken  to  provide  the  salary  of  the 
pastor's  assistant.  This  plan  of  dividing  the  women 
of  the  congregation  into  circles  of  ten  is  in  operation 
in  a  goodly  number  of  churches.  Sometimes  these 
circles  alternate  in  taking  general  charge  of  suppers, 
sociables,  and  meetings.  This  plan  still  keeps  the 
work  under  the  control  of  one  executive  head,  and  yet 
stimulates  by  reasonable  and  healthful  competition. 
It  is  also  of  advantage  in  that  it  gives  all  the  women, 
at  various  times,  some  leading  responsibility.  The 
First  Congregational  Church  of  Appleton,  Wis.,  calls 
this  body  of  church-workers  "  The  Ladies'  Parish 
Society."  All  members  of  the  congregation  are  mem- 
bers of  thic  organization.  They  are  assigned  to  divi- 
sions in  alphabetical  order  the  better  to  carry  on  their 
social  and  financial    interests.     There  are   ten  divi- 

202 


WOMEN'S  WOEK. 

sions  with  about  forty  in  each.  Each  division  has  a 
month  for  an  entertainment  of  some  kind. 

3.  We  may  here  make  mention  of  the  Unity 
Church  League  of  the  Church  of  the  Unity,  Los 
Angeles,  Cal.,  for  the  ndodel  constitution  and  work- 
ing plan  that  this  society  presents.  It  is  a  women's 
league,  but  men  may  become  members  of  it  by  the 
annual  payment  of  one  dollar.  The  constitution 
declares  that  the  object  of  the  League  is  "to  pro- 
mote the  welfare  of  the  Unity  Church  in  Los  Angeles, 
spiritually,  intellectually,  socially,  and  financially." 
One  article  says  that  the  League  shall  consist  of  as 
many  branches  as  may  from  time  to  time  seem  neces- 
sary, and  another  declares  "that  every  member  of  the 
League  shall  manifest  an  interest  in  each  and  every 
branch."  Any  woman  may  belong  to  as  many  of 
these  branches  as  she  likes.  The  branches  at  present 
in  the  society  are :  — 

The  Philanthropic  Branch,  which  assists  the  poor 
and  sick  and  encourages  the  sti'uggling,  especially 
strangers. 

The  Channing  Branch,  which  promotes  the  spiritual 
welfare  and  ethical  culture  of  the  members  by  study. 

The  Sunday-school  Branch,  which  aids  in  the  work 
of  the  Sunday-school. 

The  Parish  Extension  Branch,  which  aims  to  in- 
crease the  membership  of  the  church. 

The  Library  Branch,  which  buys  and  keeps  stocked 
both  the  Sunday-school  and  League  libraries. 

The  Unity  Aid  Branch,  which  makes  garments  for 
the  poor,  and  assists  in  church  enterprises  financially 
and  otherwise. 

The  Young  Woman's  Branch,  which  assists  in  the 
last-named  work. 

The  Music  Branch,  which  maintains  a  musical 
203 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

organization  in  the  League,  and  attends  to  other 
musical  matters  in  the  church. 

The  Children's  Branch,  which  works  for  children. 

The  Post-Office  Branch,  which  distributes  literature 
and  endeavors  to  extend  the  influence  of  the  Unitarian 
Church. 

Might  not  other  churches  copy,  with  profit,  an 
organization  which  permeates  with  its  influence 
every  interest  and  activity  of  the  church  with  which 
it  is  connected? 

4.  The  Helping  Hand  is  a  society  conducted  by 
the  women  of  the  church  for  the  poorer  women  of  the 
community,  chapel,  or  church.  The  women  come  one 
afternoon  in  the  week  at  half-past  two  o'clock.  The 
first  fifteen  minutes  are  spent  in  devotional  exercises. 
After  this  the  women  begin  to  sew.  Meanwhile  a  talk 
is  given  on  some  practical  topic.  They  remain  until 
five  o'clock,  and  during  the  afternoon  are  instructed, 
if  necessary,  in  the  best  methods  of  doing  their  work. 
They  are  paid  ten  cents  an  hour  for  their  time,  thus  mak- 
ing about  twenty -five  cents  an  afternoon.  The  mate- 
rials are  bought  at  wholesale,  and  the  women  fashion 
them  into  garments  for  themselves,  the  object  being 
to  provide  clothing  for  mothers  who  neglect  them- 
selves to  provide  for  their  children.  The  women  are 
paid  for  their  work  in  garments,  but  they  are  some- 
times allowed  to  take  ten  cents  of  their  money  in 
groceries  instead.  This  is  a  very  practical  form  of 
benevolence,  as  it  combines  instruction  with  help, 
and  brings  the  women  under  the  influence  of  the 
church  for  three  hours  during  the  week  in  a  close 
and  intimate  way.  In  some  Helping  Hands  there 
are  as  many  instructors  as  one  to  each  ten  women. 
There  should  be  enough  teachers  to  give  needed 
advice  and  instruction,  and  they  should  be  the  prac- 

204 


WOMEN'S  WORK. 

tical  and  spiritual  women  of  the  church.  The  Help- 
ing Hand  is  usually  held  only  during  the  winter 
months,  but  it  is  often  continued  with  great  profit 
as  a  mothers'  prayer  meeting  during  the  summer.. 

Another  work  closely  allied  to  the  Helping  Hand, 
but  combining,  also,  some  of  the  features  of  an  em- 
ployment society,  is  that  in  the  Marble  Collegiate 
Church  of  New  York.  It  is  called  the  Women's 
Employment  Association.  This  work  differs  from 
the  Helping  Hand  in  the  fact  that  the  women  are 
given  work  to  the  amount  of  forty  or  sixty  cents,  to 
take  home  and  do,  with  the  privilege  of  buying  the 
garments  at  a  nominal  cost.  There  is  no  compulsion 
to  take  the  pay  in  clothing,  and  the  work  is  disposed 
of  to  outside  parties.  In  other  churches  carrying  on 
a  similar  work,  sewing  is  obtained  from  public  insti- 
tutions and  done  at  a  low  cost  in  order  to  furnish 
employment  to  the  women. 

It  is  a  mistake  for  village  and  country  churches  to 
regard  this  work  as  beyond  the  need  of  their  com- 
munities. Why  excuse  yourself  by  saying  jour  field 
is  too  small,  and  sin  as  did  the  man  with  one  talent? 
Mrs.  William  G.  Frost  has  recently  demonstrated 
what  can  be  done  in  so  small  a  place  as  Berea, 
Ky., — known  through  the  college,  of  which  Rev. 
William  G.  Frost,  Ph.D.,  is  president,  for  the  large 
Christian,  industrial,  and  philanthropic  work  of  that 
institution.  A  small  town  filled  with  students  would 
apparently  have  little  need  of  a  women* s  sewing-cir- 
cle. But  Mrs.  Frost  started  one;  and  one  hundred 
and  fifty  women  from  the  country  and  mountains  rode 
into  town  on  horseback  to  attend  the  class.  Berea 
has  been  working  with  limited  means,  and  the  only 
available  room  would  accommodate  but  seventy-five 
women.     Mrs.  Frost  then  announced  that  she  would 

205 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

have  two  divisions,  alternating  each  week.  But  all 
the  women  wanted  to  attend  both  sessions,  and  begged 
the  privilege  to  come  and  stand  during  the  opening 
exercises  of  worship  and  prayer.  Thus  the  poor 
mountain  women  are  being  practically  helped  in  their 
struggle  with  poverty;  and  He  who  provides  the 
'^seamless  garment"  is  being  disclosed,  to  the  joy  and 
comfort  of  their  souls.  The  expense  of  this  work 
need  not  be  great,  and  should  not  stand  in  the  way 
of  a  church  with  limited  means.  The  instruction  will 
be  voluntary,  and,  if  necessary,  —  where  the  expense 
cannot  be  covered  by  subscription  or  an  entertain- 
ment, —  sufficient  charge  may  be  made  for  the  gar- 
ments to  cover  fully  the  cost  of  the  cloth.  The 
Mothers'  Christian  Endeavor  Society  ^  is  often  con- 
ducted in  connection  with  work  like  the  above. 
Whether  conducted  in  conjunction  with  other  work  or 
independently,  this  society  has  proven  most  helpful. 

5.  The  list  of  these  societies  may  fittingly  be  closed 
with  one  that  epitomizes  the  ideal  of  woman's  work 
in  the  church,  though  it  is  found  among  the  humble 
attendants  of  Grace  Chapel,  New  York.  The  Woman's 
Friendship  Club  is  an  association  of  women  banded 
together  by  "personal  self-denial "  to  pay  ten  cents  a 
month  toward  the  new  work  of  the  church.  "She 
hath  done  what  she  could  "  was  the  Master's  tribute 
to  the  self-denial  of  one  woman ;  and  as  the  personal 
element  in  the  gift  of  the  "widow's  mite"  made  it 
outweigh  the  benefactions  of  the  wealthy,  so  the  sacri- 
fice of  time,  personal  comfort,  and  individual  enjoy- 
ment of  the  women  of  the  Church  will  receive  the 
blessed  approval  of  Him  who  "looketh  on  the  heart," 
and  be  enriched  with  His  blessing  unto  great  ends. 

1  Mr.  John  Willis  Baer,  General  Secretary,  646  Washington 
Street,  Boston,  Mass. 

206 


WORK  WITH   GIRLS  AND  YOUNG  WOMEN. 


CHAPTEK  XXV. 

WOKK  WITH   GIRLS   AND   YOUNG  WOMEN. 

The  object  of  this  chapter  is  to  indicate  in  a  brief 
way  how  pastors  have  been  helpful  to  young  women 
and  how  young  women  have  been  helpful  in  chui'ch 
and  Christian  work. 

It  has  long  been  the  custom  of  the  Rev.  F.  B. 
Meyer,  B.A.,  pastor  of  Christ's  Church,  London,  to 
hold  a  meeting  for  the  young  women  of  his  congrega- 
tion at  regular  intervals,  for  their  instruction  and  aid, 
and  to  plan  with  them  for  the  great  work  of  the  king- 
dom. "  Let  every  minister,"  says  Mr.  Meyer,  *'  have  a 
weekly  or  monthly  meeting  for  the  young  women  of  his 
church,  teaching  them  the  deepest  truths  he  knows,  and 
banding  them  together  for  holy  service."  In  speaking 
of  his  experience  in  this  work,  the  pastor  of  Christ's 
Church  says  :  "  I  have  always  tried  to  be  a  big  brother 
to  the  girls  of  my  charge.  .  .  .  And  as  I  look  back 
on  a  fairly  large  experience  I  feel  sure  that  in  number- 
less cases  I  have  saved  my  young  sisters  from  making 
irretrievable  mistakes.  I  have  helped  with  counsel,  re- 
joiced in  the  first  tidings  of  theii*  gladness,  strength- 
ened them  to  bear  heart-breaking  disappointment,  and 
in  return  for  such  brotherly  sympathy  I  have  had  untold 
devotion.  .  .  .  The  young  girls  of  Christ's  Church  are 
banded  together  on  the  basis  of  devotion  to  our  Sav- 
iour, total  abstinence,  modesty,  self-sacrifice,  and  sis- 
terliness.     We  meet  once  a  month  at  the  Lord's  Tabl« 

207 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

to  repeat  our  vows,  and  have  originated  many  soci- 
eties and  meetings  of  one  sort  and  another  for  mutual 
help,  benefit,  and  service.  This  is  a  real  sisterhood, 
and  out  of  it  all  kinds  of  good  things  have  come,  are 
coming,  and  will  come.  It  is  not  a  mere  form  which 
leads  us  at  the  end  of  our  meetings  to  stand  round  the 
room  with  hands  linked  and  sing,  — 

" '  Blest  be  the  tie  that  binds 

Our  hearts  in  Christian  love.' 

One  of  the  best  results  of  that  sisterhood  has  been 
the  establishment  of  an  Evening  Home  for  Girls,  in 
the  thickly  populated  neighborhood  near  by."  ^ 

This  personal  interest  and  definite  systematic  help- 
fulness by  the  pastor  of  Christ's  Church  to  the  young 
women  of  his  congregation  is  significant,  and  a  worthy 
object-lesson.  Too  often  ministers  through  negli- 
gence or  prudish  timidity  permit  young  women's  soci- 
eties "  to  go  as  they  will,"  without  a  guiding  hand  or 
helpful  word.  Their  work  may  be  well  done ;  never- 
theless the  opportunity  is  lost  of  helping  them  to  larger 
plans ;  of  counselling  them  and  establishing  such  mu- 
tual sympathy  as  shall  make  for  incalculable  good;  of 
aiding  in  things  of  vital  interest,  where  a  pastor's  wis- 
dom and  sympathy  would  be  most  helpful,  and  when 
his  influence  would  be  formative  of  the  years  to 
come. 

In  most  churches  there  is  but  one  Women's  Aid 
Society,  which  all  women  are  expected  to  join.  This 
simplifies  the  work ;  and  when  we  consider  it  from  the 
standpoint  of  unity,  there  are  arguments  in  favor  of 
but  one  organization  for  this  kind  of  work.  But  when 
we  remember  that  the  ways  of  working  of  the  older 
and  young  differ  somewhat,  and  that  the  time  at 
I  1  Christian  Treasury,  May,  1895,  p.  110. 
208 


WORK  WITH   GIRLS  AND  YOUNG  WOMEN. 

which  they  can  conveniently  assemble  may  not  be  the 
same,  we  see  room  for  a  Young  Women's  Aid  Society. 
This  may  be  conducted,  if  practicable,  as  auxiliary  to 
the  main  society.  Certain  things  will  naturally  fall  to 
the  juniors,  such  as  supplying  the  pulpit  with  flowers, 
decorating  ^the  chui'ch  for  entertainments,  serving  re- 
freshments at  church  gatherings,  and  teaching  in  the 
sewiug-school  and  other  educational  enterprises  under 
the  charge  of  the  church.  Equally  applicable  are  the 
arguments  in  favor  of  having  the  young  women  banded 
together  into  Home  and  Foreign  Missionary  efforts. 
The  work  of  young  women  is  incomplete  save  it  in- 
clude missionary  effort.  The  missionary  meetings  of 
young  people  more  often  have  a  social  feature  than 
those  of  their  elder  sisters.  Occasional  evening  meet- 
ings open  to  young  men  have  been  held  with  good  re- 
sults. Interest  in  missions  has  thus  been  awakened. 
If  there  should  be  more  of  this  missionary  work  "  at 
home,"  perhaps  the  future  years  will  not  show  such  a 
disparity  between  the  sexes  in  missionary  zeal. 

There  are  other  things  that  the  young  women  can 
do.  Some  young  ladies'  societies  in  cities  do  a  large 
work  each  year  by  raising  money  by  means  of  musi- 
cal entertainments,  suppers,  and  sales  for  the  "  fresh 
air  fund."  Thus  many  hundred  children  each  summer 
have  respite  from  their  poor  and  crowded  homes  in  the 
hot  city,  and  receive  the  health  and  happiness  of  a  lit- 
tle outing  in  the  gladsome  country.  Just  here,  too,  is 
where  young  women's  societies  and  others  in  the  coun- 
try can  assist.  They  may  do  a  grand  work  by  co- 
operating with  friends  in  the  city  in  providing  places 
for  children  either  in  private  houses  or  by  assisting  for 
their  care  in  larger  numbers.  A  small  house  together 
with  a  tent  will  accommodate  a  hundred  or  more  chil- 
dren. This  plan  is  in  operation  in  a  number  of  places. 
14  209 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

Friends  in  the  village  or  country  visit  the  children, 
make  gifts  of  fruit  and  food,  and  thus  the  expense  is 
largely  reduced,  and  a  few  dollars  is  made  to  care  for 
many  children.  If  friends  in  the  country  knew  of  the 
poor  sad  homes  where  thousands  of  city  children  live, 
where  foul  air,  ignorance,  vice,  and  crime  abound,  they 
would,  I  believe,  gladly  rally  to  this  work. 

The  Young  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union  ^ 
presents  opportunities  for  usefulness  in  many  ways. 
The  Daughters  of  the  King  ^  is  another  open  door  to 
service.  This  is  an  organization  among  Episcopal 
young  women.  It  was  started  in  1885.  It  has  for  its 
object  the  spread  of  Christ's  kingdom  among  women. 
It  is  a  noble  order,  and  has  accomplished  much  good. 

Similar  to  this  is  the  order  of  the  King's  Daugh- 
ters.^ It  differs  from  the  former,  however,  in  being 
undenominational  and  in  the  fact  that  it  uses  its 
efforts  for  the  betterment  of  every  class  of  society. 
It  is  the  broadest  of  all  existing  societies  in  the  scope 
of  its  work.  Its  members  are  pledged  as  individuals 
and  as  an  order  to  help  the  poor,  to  aid  the  suffering 
and  needy,  and  to  help  in  any  good  work.  Each  circle 
chooses  its  own  work.  The  one  obligation  for  mem- 
bership is  sersice. 

This  order  was  organized  early  in  1886,  and  during 
the  ten  years  of  its  existence,  the  little  silver  cross 
with  the  knot  of  purple  ribbon  and  its  legend,  "In 
His  Name,"  has  been  carried  into  many  lands.  As 
now  combined  with  the  order  of  King's  Sons,  the  good 

1  Mrs.  Katherine  Lente  Stevenson,  Corresponding  Secretary, 
The  Temple,  Chicago,  111. 

2  Miss  Elizaheth  L.  Rjerson,  Secretary,  520  East  87th  Street, 
New  York  City. 

3  Mrs.  Isabella  Charles  Davis,  Corresponding  Secretary,  158 
West  23d  Street,  New  York  City. 

210 


work:  with  girls  and  young  women. 

accomplished  so  quietly  and  unostentatiously  is  beyond 
all  reckoning. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  different  kinds  of  ser- 
vice that  have  been  undertaken  by  the  circles  of  King's 
Daughters  and  Sons.  This  enumeration  must  prove 
suggestive  to  other  young  women  societies.  The 
Countess  Circle  of  New  Glasgow,  N.  S.,  strives  for 
more  sociability  in  the  church  with  which  it  is  con- 
nected. A  circle  in  Richmond,  Vt.,  where  the 
people  are  poor,  has  not  only  seen  that  the  pulpit  was 
filled,  but  has  also  undertaken  to  see  that  the  su|)ply 
was  paid.  Once  when  there  was  no  minister,  the 
leader  of  the  Circle  herself  held  a  praise  service.  A 
member  of  the  Montreal  "  Whatsoever  Circle  "  held  an 
"at  home,"  and  sent  an  invitation  to  every  King's 
Daughter  and  Son  in  the  city  with  their  friends  to  come 
and  bring  something  for  the  poor.  From  the  supplies 
and  money  contributed,  thirty-seven  families  received 
Christmas  boxes  of  groceries,  clothing,  and  toys.  In 
Wakefield,  R.  I.,  the  village  milliners  give  the  Circle 
hats  to  be  trimmed.  The  Circle  trims  them,  gives 
them  to  the  poor  in  the  Sunday-school,  and  also  sends 
a  box  to  needy  ones  in  New  York.  The  Kingston, 
Ont.,  Charity  Circle  has  a  "Food  and  Fuel  Club." 
This  was  organized  to  help  the  poor  to  save  during 
months  when  work  is  plenty.  The  matter  was  ex- 
plained to  the  people  in  a  meeting  called  for  the  pur- 
pose, and  those  who  did  not  come  were  called  upon  and 
given  the  opportunity  to  join.  Collectors,  members  of 
the  Circle,  volunteered  to  call  every  month  on  those 
who  joined  the  Club.  Each  collector  was  provided 
with  a  book  in  which  the  names  of  those  in  her  district 
were  entered.  The  members,  on  the  other  hand,  had 
cards  signed  by  the  officers  of  the  Circle.  At  each 
visit,  the  collector  entered  the  money  paid  by  the  club- 

211 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

member  in  her  book  aud  also  on  the  card  of  the  mem- 
ber. The  season  for  saving  was  from  April  to  October. 
When  winter  drew  near,  it  was  found  that  $176.86  had 
been  collected.  The  Circle  had  made  arrangements 
for  coal,  so  that  the  members  had  the  benefit  of  the  re- 
duced summer  prices.  Arrangements  were  also  made 
for  moderate  prices  in  groceries.  The  members,  of 
course,  drew  their  money  out  as  they  needed  during 
the  winter.  But  preference  was  generally  shown  for 
the  Circle's  orders  on  the  food  and  fuel  supply,  for 
which  the  savings  were  made.  The  Circle  also  paid 
out  of  its  own  fund  five  per  cent  interest  on  the  money 
paid  in.  In  Philadelphia,  near  the  great  brickmaking 
yards  and  oil  works,  stands  the  "R."  It  was  estab- 
lished by  Miss  Mary  Schott,  a  King's  Daughter,  and 
the  young  men  of  her  Sunday-school  class.  It  is 
under  the  care  of  the  King's  Sons.  "The  'R'  is  a 
restaurant  or  place  of  resort  where  men  may  rest  and 
partake  of  refreshment,  and  afterward  find  recreation 
in  reading,  while  the  King's  Sons  work  for  their  refor- 
mation by  means  of  religion."  It  has  a  thoroughly 
equipped  reading-room  and  library.  Lessons  in  draw- 
ing, music,  and  carpentry  are  also  given.  It  does  an 
incalculable  amount  of  good  in  the  quarter  in  which  it 
is  located.  The  "  Silver  Cross  Club  "  of  Chicago  has 
furnished  a  cosy  lunch-room  where  girls  may  furnish 
part  of  their  lunch,  may  rest  in  the  easy-chairs  and 
lounges  and  enjoy  the  books  and  magazines  provided. 
The  Circle  in  Germantown,  Penn.,  has  a  Boys'  Parlor 
open  every  evening.  It  contains,  in  addition  to 
reading-room  and  games,  a  shop  where  are  found  car- 
penters' tools,  jig-saws,  and  other  similar  tools.  Any- 
thing the  boys  finish  they  may  take  home.  There  are 
also  classes  in  drawing,  hammock-netting,  and  so 
forth.     One  member  of  the  Circle  gathers  the  boys 

212 


WORK  WITH   GIRLS   AND  YOUNG  WOMEN. 

around  her  and  teaches  them  Natural  History  by 
means  of  a  cabinet  of  specimens,  which  she  and  the 
boys  have  collected.  At  nine  o'clock  a  hymn  is  sung, 
and  the  boys  depart.  At  times,  the  stereopticon  is 
produced  for  their  entertainment  or  a  little  talk  is 
given.  There  is  another  Circle  in  New  York  called 
the  "Happy  Sunday  Afternoon."  About  half-past 
three,  the  children  come,  all  girls,  with  the  exception 
of  baby  brothers  who  have  to  be  brought  along.  The 
children  sing  several  hymns,  the  words  being  on  paper 
and  hung  on  the  wall.  Then  they  gather  around  the 
story-teller  and  are  entertained  for  an  hour.  After 
singing,  they  are  dismissed,  each  child  being  given  a 
magazine  or  paper. 

Some  other  things  that  circles  have  done  may  be 
briefly  told.  One  circle  bought  a  saddle  for  a  home 
missionary;  another  a  sewing-machine  for  a  poor 
woman ;  another  a  music-box  which  they  sent  around 
among  the  institutions  of  the  city  to  entertain  the  in- 
mates. Other  circles  have  made  comfort  bags  for 
sailors  and  light-house  keepers,  have  paid  regular 
visits  to  the  Old  Ladies'  Homes  and  hospitals,  to  cheer 
with  their  bright  faces,  to  read  or  to  take  some  dainty 
dish  or  article,  or  to  play  or  sing  for  the  aged.  Another 
circle  gave  a  Christmas  tree  to  the  Free  Kindergarten. 
Another  furnished  each  two  sheets  and  a  pair  of  pillow- 
cases to  the  Bethany  Home  for  Working  Gii'ls  in 
Boston.  One  circle,  even,  did  a  washing  for  a  poor 
woman,  and  another  circle  sent  milk  daily  to  a  star\dng 
baby.  Many  circles  dress  dolls  to  send  to  babies'  hos- 
pitals and  nurseries,  and  make  scrap-books  for  the 
babies.  One  circle  made  a  bright  screen  for  a  child's 
hospital.  The  screen  was  decorated  with  picture 
cards,  and  served  a  double  purpose  of  keeping  off  the 
draft  and  amusing  the  little  sufferers.     Another  circle 

213 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

has  invented  the  Envelope  Library,  which  consists  of 
selections  cut  out  and  pasted  on  strong  mauila  paper. 
Each  envelope  contains  stories,  poetry,  comforting 
words,  and  the  Gospel  invitation.  The  cuttings  are 
light  and  easy  to  hold,  and  the  variety  the  envelopes 
contain  makes  a  break  in  the  monotony  of  the  sick- 
room or  the  hospital.  Another  circle  has  for  one  of  its 
plans  thougJitfulness  for  ivorkers.  The  members  of  the 
circle  are  careful  to  give  exact  change  to  conductors  on 
street  cars,  make  it  a  rule  to  be  decided  in  shopping 
as  to  what  they  want  before  going  to  the  counter,  and 
never  to  shop  late  in  the  day.  Still  another  circle 
totally  discourages  gossiping,  and  calls  itself  the 
''Silent  Circle." 

Some  circles  are  paying  the  expenses  of  chDdren 
who  are  learning  a  trade ;  others  buy  appliances  to 
straighten  crippled  children's  limbs,  or  crutches  for 
the  lame,  or  an  invalid  chair  for  the  helpless.  Many 
circles  subscribe  to  Ramabai's  School  for  Child 
Widows  in  India,  and  others  assist  in  the  work  among 
the  lepers  in  the  East,  while  others  help  in  the  mis- 
sionary work  of  the  churches  with  which  they  are  con- 
nected. Many  circles  are  helping  in  the  Clothing 
Bureau  established  in  New  York  in  1892  by  the  Cen- 
tral Council  of  the  King's  Daughters.  It  has  been 
found  that  the  deserving  poor  would  rather  pay  a 
small  price  than  to  receive  clothing  as  a  gift.  Some 
of  the  clothing  is  of  so  excellent  a  character  that  the 
Bureau  has  been  able  to  help  that  class  most  to  be 
pitied,  the  refined  poor,  the  nature  of  whose  ability 
demands  that,  in  seeking  work,  they  shall  be  able  to 
present  a  respectable  appearance.  Other  circles  send 
clothing  to  the  babies  at  the  Children's  Hospital  and 
gather  soft  fine  old  handkerchiefs  for  use  at  hospitals. 
"The  circles  in  New  York  take  especial  pains  to  have 

214 


WORK  WITH  GIRLS  AND  YOUNG  WOMEN. 

vacation  trips  for  tired  mothers,  who,  bearing  the  heat 
and  burden  of  the  house-work,  have  been  the  last 
usually  to  be  thought  of.  They  also  assist  the  "  Lit- 
tle Mothers "  to  vacation  trips  and  outings.  The 
circle  in  Wilmington,  N.  C,  have  a  pleasant  home  at 
the  beach  called  the  ''  Shelter  of  the  Silver  Cross,"  to 
which  they  send  people  for  a  summer  outing. 

These  are  but  a  very  few  of  the  kinds  of  Christian 
work  this  noble  organization  is  doing  both  by  itself 
and  in  connection  with  other  societies  whose  aim  is  the 
betterment  of  mankind  and  the  spread  of  the  Gospel. 
Everywhere  they  are  working,  —  through  the  Fresh  Air 
Fund,  the  Charity  Organization,  the  Missionary  Soci- 
ety, and  the  Church.  No  service  too  menial,  no  labor 
too  arduous;  it  is  fitting  that  they  call  themselves 
sons  and  daughters  of  the  King.  They  are  closely  fol- 
lowing the  footsteps  of  Jesus,  saying,  "  I  must  be 
about  my  Father's  business." 

"  I  would  not  wait  for  any  great  achievement ; 
You  may  not  live  to  reach  that  far-off  goal ; 
Speak  soothing  words  to  some  heart  in  bereavement, 
Aid  some  up-struggling  soul."  ^ 

1  EUa  Wheeler  WUcox. 


215 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH   WORK. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

THE    SOCIAL   PROBLEM   OF   THE   CHURCH. 

Behind  the  social  problem  lies  the  key  of  what  should  constitute 
the  impulse  of  all  our  work,  if  we  would  reach  the  unchurched  masses,  — 
it  is  this,  we  must  realize  the  power  of  the  Indwelling  Presence  which 
the  Holy  Spirit  was  sent  to  reveal,  and  which  is  the  heritage  of  every 
redeemed  soul;  and  as  we  lean  upon  this  help,  we  shall  learn  more  and 
more  how  to  take  the  hand  of  strangers  and  bid  them  welcome  in  our 
churches,  and  they  will  know  by  the  very  way  we  look  into  their  faces, 
that  they  have  met  a  friend,  and  they  will  be  convinced  of  the  reality 
of  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ.  —  Mrs.  Gideon  Fountain. 

1.  The  work  of  the  women  of  the  church  has  always 
been  so  thorough  and  far-reaching  that  a  new  society 
■yhich  finds  place  for  itself  and,  instead  of  encroaching 
upon,  proves  to  be  the  open  door  to  other  societies, 
commands  our  closest  interest. 

The  Mary  and  Martha  League  is  a  new  society  which 
simply  and  comprehensively  solves  what  has  long  been 
a  perplexing  problem ;  namely,  the  social  relation  be- 
tween the  richer  and  poorer  members  of  the  church, 
and  the  relation  of  new  members  to  the  older  members. 

The  fact  that  the  poorer  people  have  not  always  felt 
comfortable  with  the  "well-to-do"  has  not  always 
been  the  latter's  fault,  though  they  have  commonly 
borne  the  blame.  There  is  a  sensitiveness  to  social 
distinction,  which  is  more  consciously  felt  by  the 
poorer  people  than  is  remembered  by  the  Christian 
well-to-do  classes,  and  as  a  result  very  few  calls  are 
made  upon  the  latter,  though  a  most  cordial  welcome 
•  216 


THE  SOCIAL  PROBLEM  OF   THE   CHURCH. 

Ls  given.  Under  sucli  circumstances  the  helpfulness  of 
large  acquaintance  in  the  church  is  not  realized,  at 
least  for  a  considerable  length  of  time.  On  the  other 
hand,  with  many  of  the  strangers  coming  into  church, 
running  the  gantlet  of  ' '  return  calls  "  is  not  a  cov- 
eted process.  Again,  some  are  so  situated  that  they 
cannot  make  the  calls,  while  others  would  not,  even 
though  they  could. 

What,  then,  is  to  be  provided  in  the  way  of  social 
life  for  these  people?  The  men  have  associates  in 
business  and  diversion  in  the  club,  but  the  women  are 
like  Ruth  in  Bethlehem,  with  one  friend.  What  is 
needed  from  the  church  is  the  Christ  touch  of  a  kindly 
welcome.  Many  hearts  ache  for  sympathy  and  for 
fellowship  with  the  people  of  God.  The  church  must 
supplement  the  home,  and  this  cannot  be  done  alone 
by  pastors  and  church  officers.  Such  welcome  is 
always  appreciated,  but  in  itself  does  not  extend  the 
acquaintance  very  far,  and  is  incomplete,  as  "  there  is 
a  touch  of  welcome  that  can  come  only  from  a  woman. 
As  woman  is  the  hostess  in  the  home,  so  she  must  be- 
come the  embodiment  of  a  Christlike  hospitality  in 
the  church.  As  individual  Christians,  we  are  called 
upon  to  bear  witness  to  the  power  of  Jesus  Christ  to 
save ;  are  we  not  also  called  upon  to  bear  witness  to 
his  loving  kindness,  to  his  cordiality,  to  his  gracious 
welcome  ?  "  ^ 

Here  is  woman's  opportunity.  And  the  Mary  and 
Martha  League  is  trying  to  realize  the  ideal  of  ex- 
pressing this  hospitality,  to  promote  the  Christian 
fellowship  of  the  church,  and  by  this  means  to  bring 
homes  into  living  union  with  Jesus  Christ.  The 
society  was  organized  in  the  Madison  Avenue  Pres- 

i  Paper  by  Mrs.  Gideon  Fountain,  read  before  the  Open  and 
Institutional  Church  League,  Philadelphia,  November,   1894. 

217 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

byterian  Church,  New  York,  in  January,  1894,  as  a 
result  of  many  gropings  to  meet  what  many  a  church 
has  found  to  be  a  peculiar  need.  The  following  is  the 
Constitution  of  the  society :  — 

This  organization  shall  be  called  the  "  Mary  and  Martha 
League  of  the ." 

The  League  is  a  part  of  the  church  itself,  and  like  all  the 
other  societies  is  subject  to  the  wish  and  general  direction 
of  the  pastor. 

The  object  of  this  League  is  for  the  spread  of  Christ's 
kingdom  in  our  midst. 

To  this  end  those  desirous  of  becoming  members  are  asked 
to  observe  two  rules,  viz.  :  prayer  and  service. 

The  rule  of  prayer  is  that  each  member  promises  to  pray 
daily  for  the  spread  of  Christ's  kingdom  and  for  special 
blessing  upon  this  society. 

The  rule  of  service  is  to  make  an  earnest  effort  to  bring 
persons  where  they  shall  hear  the  Gospel  preached,  or  in 
any  way  to  emphasize  the  regular  appointed  services  of  the 
church  of  which  this  is  a  part. 

Any  one  may  become  a  member  of  this  society  by  paying 
the  annual  fee  of  ten  cents  and  signing  the  Constitution. 

The  members  shall  consist  of  two  classes,  —  active  and 
associate. 

Active  members  shall  consist  of  those  who  are  already 
church-members.  The  associate  members  are  entitled  to  all 
the  privileges  of  the  association,  may  work  on  committees, 
but  shall  have  no  voice  in  voting. 

This  League  shall  consist  of  the  following  officers,  and 
shall  be  elected  annually,  —  President,  Vice-Presidents,  Secre- 
tary, and  Treasurer. 

The  annual  meeting  shall  be  held  in  January. 

This  Constitution  may  be  amended  at  an  annual  meeting 
by  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the  active  members. 

This  Constitution,  like  that  of  the  Andrew  and 
Philip  Brotherhood,  which  suggested  it,  is  simplicity 
itself.     There  are  two  distinguishing  features  in  the 

218 


THE   SOCIAL   PROBLEM   OF   THE   CHURCH. 

work  of  this  society.  The  first  is  that  of  the  Calling 
Committee,  and  the  second  is  that  of  the  monthly 
meeting  of  the  society. 

The  Calling  Committee  consists  of  about  twenty-five 
members  of  the  League,  who  are  given  names  of 
strangers  and  of  new  members  in  the  congregation 
for  the  purpose  of  calling  upon  them  in  a  friendly 
way,  to  express  the  cordial  welcome  and  hospitality 
of  the  church,  and  to  invite  them  to  the  League  meet- 
ings, where  there  is  an  opportunity  to  become  ac- 
quainted with  the  older  members  of  the  church  and 
also  with  the  pastor  and  his  wife.  The  new  names 
of  women  which  may  come  into  the  possession  of  the 
pastors  through  pulpit  receptions  or  by  other  means, 
are  at  once  handed  to  the  president  of  the  League. 
Such  names  are  entered  by  her  in  a  "  Name  Book," 
and  are  registered  alphabetically  and  also  by  streets. 
The  book  is  simply  a  ledger,  and  a  page  or  half  a 
page  is  given  each  name.  All  calls  made  by  the 
members  of  the  visiting  staff  are  reported  in  writing 
upon  the  following  blanks  :  — 


Name, 

Address, Date  of  Call,- 

Remarks, 

Signed, 

Madison  Avenae  Presbyterian  Chorch. 


The  substance  of  these  reports  in  turn  is  entered  in 
the  Name  Book.  Helpful  information,  such  as  pre- 
vious church  aflSliations,  the  religious  status  of  the 
several  members  of  the  family,  and  any  suggestion 
for  reaching  them,  is  recorded.  In  this  way  the  work 
is  thorough  and  systematic.     This  is  one  way  of  being 

219 


MODERN  METHODS   IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

**  wise  as  a  serpent  and  harmless  as  a  dove."  Such 
information  often  lights  a  straight  path  to  the  hearts  of 
the  people.  Only  the  members  of  the  League  and  the 
pastors  of  the  church  have  access  to  the  Name  Book. 

The  Calling  Committee  meets  for  half  an  hour  pre- 
ceding the  regular  monthly  meeting  of  the  League. 
Each  member  reads  a  report  of  her  calls,  and  then 
hands  the  report  in  writing  to  the  president  of  the 
society.  To  hear  what  the  several  members  are 
doing  is  stimulating  and  encouraging  to  all,  as  well 
as  otherwise  helpful. 

The  second  distinguishing  feature  of  this  League  is 
the  Monthly  Meeting.  It  is  this  that  gathers  up  the 
results  of  the  previous  invitations  and  calls  by  mem- 
bers of  the  League;  it  is  the  focal  point  of  all  the 
work  of  the  society,  —  the  society  itself  being  only 
the  means  to  the  greater  end  of  winning  the  people 
to  Christ  and  bringing  them  into  the  membership  of 
the  church. 

The  monthly  meeting  is  held  in  the  church  parlors 
on  the  first  Saturday  of  each  month.  The  best  day 
for  holding  monthly  meetings  will,  of  course,  be  de- 
termined by  local  conditions.  With  some,  Saturday 
is  an  unusually  busy  day.  But  with  others,  teachers 
and  young  women  in  the  schools,  Saturday  is  the  only 
day  in  the  week  when  they  can  be  at  leisure.  The 
meeting  is  held  from  three  to  five  o'clock,  and  consists 
of  two  parts.  The  first  part  may  be  called  devotional 
and  educational,  and  is  also  given  to  the  business  of 
the  League,  such  as  reports  of  committees,  discussions, 
plans  for  work,  and  so  forth.  Sometimes  a  stranger 
is  invited  to  give  a  short  address  upon  some  topic  of 
the  day  of  special  interest  to  women.  At  the  close  of 
the  first  hour,  a  formal  adjournment  is  made,  and  the 
second  hour  is  spent  wholly  in  a   social   way.      The 

220 


THE  SOCIAL  PROBLEM  OF  THE   CHURCH. 

members  of  the  Calling  Committee  take  especial  pains 
to  introduce  the  ladies  whom  they  have  called  upon  and 
with  whom  a  friendly  intercourse  has  been  begun,  to 
the  other  members  of  the  League,  and  to  visitors. 
This  gives  opportunity  for  meeting  a  goodly  number 
of  the  members  of  the  church.  A  pleasant  acquaint- 
ance is  begun,  and  oftentimes  relations  are  established 
between  the  families  of  the  old  and  new  members 
which  grow  into  strongest  friendships,  and  many 
families  become  regular  attendants  and  members  of 
the  church.  Some  strangers  who  would  hesitate  to 
accept  invitations  to  private  homes,  accept  invitations 
to  the  League  meetings  and  to  this  social  hour.  Here 
they  can  come  and  meet  not  merely  one  family  of  the 
church,  but  many.  And  here  in  the  Father's  house, 
where  there  is  an  atmosphere  of  cordiality  and  home 
welcome,  even  the  poorer  forget  that  there  is  such  a 
thing  as  class  distinction,  and  feel  comfortable  and  at 
home  under  the  gracious  influence  of  that  spirit  which 
hath  made  us  all  one.  During  the  social  hour  a  cup 
of  tea  is  served,  the  table  being  attended  and  the 
people  waited  upon  by  some  of  the  newer  members  of 
the  society.  An  effort  is  always  made  to  enlist  the 
co-operation  of  the  new  members  as  soon  as  possible. 
The  Entertainment  Committee  provides  a  short  pro- 
gramme in  the  way  of  music,  vocal  or  instrumental, 
and  sometimes  readings  and  recitations  are  given. 
Variety  is  aimed  for,  and  "  everything  is  done  to  fill 
the  hour  with  delightful  social  intercourse  void  of 
formality." 

Imitations  in  writing  are  sent  out  a  few  days  pre- 
vious to  the  monthly  meeting  of  the  League.  These 
invitations  are  mimeographed  on  postal  cards,  making 
the  expense  very  slight.  The  mailing  list  is  taken 
from  the  Name  Book. 

221 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

Although  all  the  strangers  do  not  come  to  the 
League  meetings,  some  because  they  cannot,  and 
others  because  they  have  not  the  disposition  to  come, 
still  invitations  are  always  mailed  to  them.  Many 
families  upon  whom  no  apparent  impression  was  made 
for  months,  —  through  the  gentle  persistency  of  the 
women,  through  their  calls  and  invitations  to  the 
meetings,  —  have  been  finally  brought  not  only  into 
the  society,  but  also  into  the  active  membership  of  the 
church. 

Much  depends  in  this  work,  as  in  all  societies,  on 
the  president  of  the  League.  It  demands  a  woman  of 
clear,  good  judgment,  who  is  sympathetic  and  spiritual. 
She,  too,  must  be  a  leader,  capable  of  keeping  the 
members  of  the  society  at  peace  with  one  another, 
and  a  woman  who  can  hear  much  and  say  little.  Such 
a  president  will  not  only  direct  wisely,  but  will  also 
inspire. 

The  League  in  the  Madison  Avenue  Presbyterian 
Church  has  been  copied  in  other  places,  and  many 
people  are  being  reached  through  it.  It  is  an  effective 
means  of  expressing  the  hospitality  and  the  gracious 
welcome  which  the  church,  standing  in  Christ's  stead, 
ought  always  to  express. 

2.  Gatherings  like  the  Mary  and  Martha  League  open 
the  way  to  the  larger  social  gatherings  of  the  church. 
The  church  social  may  be  one  of  the  happiest  and  most 
helpful  parts  of  church  life.  But  sometimes  they  are 
formal  and  unfeeling  and  as  destructive  of  goodly 
fellowship  and  influence  as  "monotony  is  destructive 
of  art."  Such  socials  are  of  no  avail  to  heaven  or 
earth.  The  wise  soon  learn  to  shun  them,  though  the 
saint  may  endure  them.  But  this  need  not  and  should 
not  be  so.  The  cause  lies  not  so  much  in  the  unwill- 
ingness of  people  to  be  social  as  the  fact  that  they 

222 


THE  SOCIAL  PROBLEM  OF   THE  CHURCH. 

have  so  little  in  common,  coming  as  the  members  of  the 
ordinary  church  do  from  circles  differing  in  interests 
and  mutual  tastes.  Then,  too,  there  is  something 
formal  about  the  church  parlors  or  assembly  rooms. 
The  absence  of  the  bright  accessories  of  the  home 
seems  to  produce  a  feeling  of  stiffness  unknown  in 
other  social  gatherings.  But  this  can  be  overcome,  at 
least  in  part,  by  bringing  in  the  accessories.  Let 
the  room  be  aglow  with  pretty  lamps  and  a  flood  of 
light.  Break  up  the  "  straight  rows  "  and  aiTange  the 
furnishings  with  the  pleasant  orderly  carelessness  of 
the  drawing-room.  Above  all,  have  a  social  committee 
that  is  alive^  and  whose  one  care  and  concern  will  be 
to  promote  the  pleasure  and  acquaintance  of  others. 
Music  early  in  the  evening  will  do  much  in  bringing 
the  people  together  in  sympathy  and  interest  and  start- 
ing the  flow  of  conversation.  There  is  no  ritual  for  the 
church  social.  As  Emerson  says  of  manners,  "Good 
sense  and  character  make  their  own  forms  every 
moment,"  so  the  church  social  must  "  yield  largely  to 
the  energy  of  the  individual,"  and  to  the  requirements 
of  the  occasion.  The  programme  of  the  evening  should 
be  carefully  prepared.  The  Entertainment  Committee 
will  do  well  occasionally  to  break  up  groups  of  people 
into  new  groups,  and  so  extend  the  pleasantest  com- 
pany and  make  it  easy  for  the  timid.  But  do  not  leave 
all  responsibility  with  the  committee.  Every  one  in 
the  church  should  appreciate  his  duty  to  make  it  pleas- 
ant for  others.  Happy  is  the  pastor  who  can  bring 
this  spirit  to  prevail  with  all  his  people !  He  will  then 
realize  the  ideal  social.  Such  an  ideal  will  take  time, 
patience,  and  persistence,  but  nothing  short  of  it  is 
worth  working  for. 

The  church  social  or  reception  may  at  times  be  given 
especially  in  the  interest  of  new  members.     When 

223 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK, 

persons  are  received  into  a  church,  it  would  seem  the 
part  of  courtesy  to  do  everything  possible  to  make 
them  acquainted  with  those  who  joined  the  church 
before  them.  To  this  end,  a  reception  to  new  mem- 
bers may  be  held  closely  following  the  Sunday  on 
which  they  were  received  into  the  church.  But  this 
reception  must  be  more  than  such  in  name.  It  often 
happens  that  no  one  in  such  a  reception  is  so  little 
noticed  as  the  so-called  guests  of  honor.  A  good  plan 
is  to  have  the  new  members,  in  company  with  some  of 
the  officers  of  the  church  and  the  pastor  and  his 
wife,  stand  to  receive  the  other  members  and  friends 
of  the  church.  Ushers  may  escort  all  comers  to  those 
receiving. 

3.  Another  direct  and  pleasing  way  of  expressing  the 
welcome  and  interest  of  the  church  is  the  plan  of  the 
Shawmut  Church  of  Boston.  With  rare  tact  and  dis- 
cernment certain  members  open  their  homes  on  every 
evening  during  the  week  except  the  night  of  the  weekly 
prayer  meeting  or  other  public  church  gathering.  A 
little  leaflet  is  distributed  at  the  church  bearing  on  its 
titlepage,  "  Shawmut  Church  Evenings  at  Home." 
Then  come  the  evenings  and  the  names  and  addresses 
of  those  receiving.  The  leaflet  concludes  with  a  hearty 
invitation  to  any  of  the  church  and  congregation,  par- 
ticularly strangers,  to  call  at  the  homes  thus  opened  on 
the  evenings  designated.  The  idea  of  thus  offering 
Christian  hospitality  is  so  gracious,  so  wholly  in  accord 
with  Gospel  teaching,  that  no  words  of  commendation 
need  be  added.  Though  no  angel  be  entertained 
unawares,  the  heart  of  the  stranger  may  be  gladdened, 
and  a  Christlike  interest  shown  in  him  in  a  very  real 
way. 

These  several  ways  of  personal  contact  not  only 
promote  acquaintance  and  enable  us  to  help  others  by 

224 


THE   SOCIAL  PROBLEM   OF  THE   CHURCH. 

a  friendly  interest,  but  also  afford  opportunity  for 
bringing  to  bear  a  Christlike  personality,  which  is 
ever  honored  by  the  Spirit  in  the  great  work  of  the 
kingdom. 

"  Only  a  kind  word  spoken, 
Only  a  kind  look  given, 
But  they  filled  a  life  with  beauty, 
And  a  soul  was  raised  to  heaven."  ^ 

1  Anonymous. 


15  i25 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

THE   CHILDREN   OF   THE   CHURCH. 

The  parents  are  inflexible,  but  the  children  are  malleable. 

Edwakd  Judson,  D.D. 

The  future  of  the  Church  and  of  the  nation  is  with  the 
children.  Would  we  have  that  Church  a  great  and 
growing  power  for  extending  the  kingdom  of  God,  that 
nation  a  righteous  people,  we  must  work  to-day  for  the 
children,  or  to-morrow  they  will  be  the  impressionless 
men  and  women.  Rev.  Stephen  H.  Tyng,  D.D.,  says  : 
"  The  devil  would  never  ask  anything  more  of  a  min- 
ister than  to  have  him  feel  that  his  mission  was  chiefly 
to  the  grown-up  members  of  the  congregation,  while 
some  one  else  was  to  look  after  the  children."^ 

With  all  our  ''  ransomed  powers"  we  are  toiling  for 
the  redemption  of  the  masses  and  the  reclaiming  of  the 
degraded  and  fallen.  This  is  well,  and  may  merit  the 
benediction,  "Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it;"  but  is 
there  not  danger  of  our  forgetting  that,  as  Dr.  Judson 
says,  ''the  key  to  the  hard  problem  of  evangelization 
lies  in  the  puny  hand  of  the  little  child  "  ?  Children  as 
' '  an  heritage  of  the  Lord  "  are  the  precious  charge  of 
the  Church,  and  they  may  justly  lay  claim  to  its  foster- 
ing care.  When  we  look  at  the  children  in  this  way 
and  realize  that  every  child  whom  no  other  church  is 
caring  for  is  our  child,  the  feeling  of  responsibility 
broadens  and  deepens. 

1  Quoted  in  Publisher's  Note  to  "  Our  Greatest  Work,"  bj  G.  R. 
Robbins. 

^26 


THE   CHILDREN   OF   THE   CHURCH. 

The  importance  of  work  for  children  cannot  be  over- 
emphasized. The  school-boys  of  Bourges,  in  the  early 
French  Revolution,  bore  a  flag  displaying  in  shining 
letters  the  words:  ^'■Tremblez,  Tyrans^  nous  gr an- 
dirons ! "  (Tremble,  Tyrants,  we  shall  grow  up !  )  Oh 
that  these  words,  "We  shall  grow  up,"  would  ever 
ring  in  our  churches  !  — grow  up  and  make  tremble  the 
enemy  of  our  God,  or  grow  up  with  the  enemy  and 
make  us  tremble.  The  Romanists  are  wont  to  say, 
"  Give  us  the  child  until  he  is  ten  years  old,  and  you 
may  do  what  you  can  with  him  after  that."  Trebo- 
nius,  the  instructor  of  Martin  Luther,  always  uncovered 
his  head  in  the  presence  of  any  of  his  boys.  He  was 
accustomed  to  say,  "  Who  can  tell  what  man  may  yet 
rise  up  amid  these  youths  ?  There  may  be  among  them 
those  who  shall  be  learned  doctors,  sages,  —  nay, 
princes  of  the  empire."  Even  then  there  was  before 
him  the  great  leader  of  the  Reformation,  that  "  soli- 
tary monk  that  shook  the  world."  The  children  must 
increasingly  receive  the  attention,  thought,  and  care  of 
the  Church. 

There  are  several  agencies  in  working  for  and  with 
the  children  which  have  met  with  blessed  results. 

1.  First  and  foremost  among  these  agencies  is  the 
Sunday-school.  Nothing  has  ever  been  devised  to  take 
its  place.  Old  and  yet  ever  new,  full  of  fresh  plans 
and  methods,  the  best  products  of  the  best  minds  in 
the  Church,  coming  on  the  one  day  of  the  week  when 
school  and  home  and  work  release  their  grasp,  the 
Sunday-school  has  been  "  a  power  unto  salvation." 
It  is  strange,  but  many  people  who  never  enter  a  church 
themselves  are  willing  and  glad  that  their  children  shall 
become  members  of  the  Sunday-school.  Often  the 
Sunday-school  proves  the  open  door  to  other  members 
of  the  family,  and  the  promise  is  fulfilled,   "  A  little 

227 


MODEKN  METHODS   IN   CIIURCM   AVORK. 

child  shall  lead  them."  The  teacher  who  comes  to  call 
upon  the  child  of  the  house  will  be  welcomed  where  the 
district  visitor  would  be  denied  admittance.  Much 
grows  out  of  the  Sunday-school.  Once  brought  into 
contact  with  the  children  in  the  classes,  the  social  op- 
portunities increase.  The  picnics  and  other  gatherings 
arranged  for  the  pleasure  of  the  children  become  fruit- 
ful opportunities  of  coming  into  closer  touch  with  them 
along  the  lines  of  their  daily  living ;  and  much  kindly 
counsel  may  be  given,  which  will  be  incorporated  into 
their  after  lives.  Care  should  be  exercised  to  make 
the  festivals  of  the  church  red-letter  days  in  the  calen- 
dar of  the  school.  The  glorious  facts  of  the  birth  and 
resurrection  of  our  Lord  ma}^  thus  be  associated  with 
all  that  is  brightest  in  childish  experiences.  Children's 
Day  with  its  flowers  and  music  is  perhaps  the  most 
attractive  day  in  the  year  to  the  school.  So  bright  are 
the  little  faces,  so  full  of  the  spirit  of  the  season  in 
this  blossom-time  of  the  year,  that  no  church  will  need 
to  be  urged  to  give  them  the  encouragement  of  their 
presence.  Rally  Day  should  mean  a  rallying  of  the 
church  around  the  Sunday-school,  as  well  as  the  usual 
meaning  in  the  vocabulary  of  the  school.  In  the 
"Wesley  Chapel,  Methodist  Episcopal,  of  Columbus,  O., 
they  have  their  Eally  Day  exercises  in  the  Sunday- 
school  room  in  the  morning,  and  in  the  evening  of 
the  same  day  a  Harvest  Home  Praise  Service  in  the 
auditorium.  The  church  is  decorated  for  this  service 
with  autumn  boughs,  fruits,  and  vegetables,  while  a 
shock  of  corn  and  a  sheaf  of  wheat  also  find  a  place  to 
mutely  show  forth  the  goodness  of  God.  This  Sunday- 
school  also  sets  apart  a  week-day  evening  during 
Thanksgiving  week  for  the  bringing  in  of  donations  by 
the  members  of  the  school.  These  supplies  are  stored 
up  and  distributed  as  there  is  necessity  for  them.     The 

228 


THE   CHILDREN  OF  THE  CHUKCH. 

superintendent  of  the  school,  Mr.  J.  E.  Huff,  writes : 
"  For  this  service  we  have  a  special  programme 
arranged,  with  good  music,  and,  being  held  on  a  week 
night,  have  a  little  fun  mixed  with  it.  This  is  a  great 
occasion  with  us.  Our  school  is  not  made  up  of  mem- 
bers of  wealthy  families,  but  you  would  be  surprised 
to  see  the  large  amount  of  articles  of  every  kind  that 
are  brought  in.  These  donations  have  at  times  run  up 
as  high  as  $500  in  value,  in  goods  such  as  groceries, 
dry-goods,  coal  or  orders  for  same,  clothing  (new  and 
old),  boots  and  shoes,  etc.,  and  some  giving  cash." 

2.  A  second  agency  in  promoting  the  spiritual  devel- 
opment of  the  young  is  found  in  addresses  to  them  on 
special  occasions  by  the  pastor  and  by  sermons  to 
children  on  Sunday.  It  is  not  every  church  that  is 
blessed  with  a  pastor  who  can  do  his  part  on  Children's 
Day  and  other  occasions  so  well  as  the  children  do 
theirs.  It  takes  a  man  who  remembers  how  he  felt 
when  a  boy,  and  who  knows  the  golden  mean  between 
his  ordinary  style  of  preaching  and  a  relapse  into 
foolish  anecdotes,  to  preach  to  children.  A  man  must 
be  thoroughly  in  sympathy  with  children's  lines  of 
thought,  not  merely  fond  of  children,  —  which  is  a  very 
different  thing,  —  to  address  them  acceptably.  The 
methods  in  use  by  the  Kev.  Henry  Evertson  Cobb, 
D.D.,  of  the  Collegiate  Reformed  Church  of  New  York, 
are  very  simple  and  practical.  The  music  of  the  pre- 
liminary exercises  at  every  Sabbath  morning  service  in 
his  church  is  selected  bearing  in  mind  the  presence  of 
the  children.  The  second  hymn  is  also  a  children's 
hymn.  The  pastor  then  gives  a  five-minute  sermon 
to  the  children,  and  the  smallest  ones  leave  the  church 
before  the  regular  sermon.  In  the  Church  of  the  Cove- 
nant, Chicago,  Rev.  W.  S.  Plumer  Bryan,  D.D.,  pas- 
tor, the  plan  has  been  tried  of  offering  prizes  to  boys 

229 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

and  girls  for  written  outlines  of  the  pastor's  sermons. 
The  method  is  to  divide  the  young  people  into  four 
classes, —  those  under  twelve,  between  twelve  and  fifteen, 
between  fifteen  and  eighteen,  and  over  eighteen.  The 
outlines  are  written  in  books  supplied  for  the  purpose. 
They  are  numbered  and  no  names  appear,  so  that  the 
judgment  passed  upon  them  is  strictly  impartial.  No 
notes  are  taken  and  no  assistance  received.  Dr.  Bryan 
also  preaches  a  bi-monthly  sermon  to  children.  The 
practice  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Scotland  —  a  plan 
which  is  being  increasingly  adopted  by  the  churches  of 
other  denominations  in  Scotland  —  is  to  devote  a  Sab- 
bath morning  service  once  a  month  to  the  interest  of 
children.  The  whole  programme  is  prepared  with  a  view 
to  their  edification  ;  but,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  the  service 
is  greatly  enjoyed  by  all.  There  is  no  doubt  that  in 
the  reaction  from  the  rigid  methods  of  our  forefathers, 
who  insisted  that  the  children  should  hear  at  least  two 
long  sermons  on  Sunday,  we  have  gone  too  far  in  the 
opposite  direction,  and  plans  to  encourage  the  atten- 
dance of  children  at  church  are  worthy  of  especial 
attention. 

3.  There  is  another  step  in  Christian  nurture,  the 
outcome  of  instruction  in  the  Sunday-school  and  from  the 
pulpit,  which  is  leading  children  to  form  themselves  into 
societies  in  which  they  shall  grow  in  the  Christian  life. 
The  Junior  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor,  and  such 
denominational  societies  as  the  Junior  Epworth  League 
and  the  Junior  Baptist  Union,  are  all  the  outgrowth  of 
the  idea  that  the  sooner  the  child  begins  to  express  his 
gratitude  to  God,  his  desires  to  be  good,  and  his  ideas 
about  the  things  he  has  been  taught,  the  more  likely  he 
will  be  to  make  a  strong  active  Christian.  Much  de- 
pends upon  the  organizer.  I  do  not  say  the  leader,  as 
the  leader  proper  is  one  of  the  children;   but  there 

230 


THE  CHILDREN  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

should  always  be  some  consecrated  older  Christian  whd 
has  the  Society  in  his  charge.  He  may  give  a  brief, 
simple  talk  on  the  topic,  may  lead  in  prayer  or  illustrate 
the  subject  with  a  chalk  talk.  His  chief  work  with  the 
Society  should,  however,  be  on  the  outside,  and  his 
presence  in  the  meeting  the  unobtrusive  yet  friendly 
attitude  which  the  pastor  takes  when  in  the  Senior 
Society,  —  always  ready  to  help  when  needed,  yet  never 
dominating.  Kindred  to  these  societies  is  the  Growing 
Legion,  which  is  a  children's  society  of  the  Lincoln 
Park  Baptist  Church  of  Cincinnati,  O.  Their  meetings 
are  held  on  Tuesday  afternoon  from  four  to  five  o'clock. 
The  exercises  consist  of  singing,  a  five-minute  address, 
ten  minutes  devoted  to  the  catechism,  followed  by 
quotations  from  the  Scripture  by  the  boys  and  girls. 
A  collection  too  is  always  taken.  After  singing,  the 
children  march  from  the  chapel  into  the  auditorium. 
As  they  pass  through  the  door,  each  receives  a  small 
flag.  They  march  to  the  music  of  the  pipe  organ 
around  the  church,  double  file  and  countermarch,  wav- 
ing flags  and  singing  songs  of  an  inspiring  character. 
After  marching  for  fifteen  minutes,  they  halt  and  lower- 
ing their  flags  receive  the  benediction,  then,  marching  to 
the  side  entrance  of  the  church,  are  dismissed.  This 
service  is  directly  under  the  supervision  of  the  pastor.^ 
The  First  Congregational  Church' of  Michigan,  lud., 
holds  a  children's  service  of  song  once  every  month. 
The  choir  renders  some  selections,  and  there  is  an  ad- 
dress by  the  minister,  but  the  exercises  of  the  evening 
are  mainly  given  by  the  children,  accompanied  in  the 
vocal  performances  with  various  musical  instruments. 
The  pastor.  Rev.  W.  C.  Gordon,  writes  that  these  song 
services  have  filled  the  church,  have  made  a  most  cor- 
dial relation  between  pastor  and  children,  have  devel- 
i  See  "  Our  Grea4;est  Work,"  by  Rev.  George  R.  Robbins. 
231 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

oped  the  musical  taste  of  the  children,  have  increased 
the  attendance  in  the  Sunday-school  greatly,  have 
opened  up  the  homes  of  the  non-church-members  where 
there  were  children,  and  have  increased  the  membership 
of  the  church.  Of  twenty-five  who  united  with  the 
church  on  profession  of  faith,  in  one  month,  several 
were  primarily  drawn  in  through  the  instrumentality  of 
the  children's  service  of  song. 

4.  All  these  plans  outlined  above  have  been  designed 
mainly  for  the  benefit  of  the  children  themselves ;  but 
we  must  not  forget,  nor  allow  them  to  forget,  that, 
while  "  grow  in  grace  and  in  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ "  ^  is  an  injunction  laid  upon 
them  as  well  as  upon  their  elders  in  the  church,  there  is 
also  a  command  given  to  all,  "  Go  ye  therefore  and 
teach  all  nations."  ^  There  is  no  time  in  human  life 
when  stories  of  far-off  countries  and  different  condi- 
tions of  life  and  surroundings  are  listened  to  with  the 
same  avidity  as  in  childhood.  The  heart  is  tender  too; 
and  when  the  teacher  points  out  the  sad  state  of  those 
w^ho  live  in  heathendom,  little  folks  are  not  only  inter- 
ested but  anxious  to  help.  Thus,  in  the  time  of  youth, 
the  habit  of  systematic  giving  to,  and  interest  in,  mis- 
sions may  be  established.  Children  are  often  formed 
into  mission  bands,  in  which  they  are  instructed  in  the 
work  being  done  in  missionary  fields.  There  are  many 
happy  ways  of  stimulating  giving,  such  as  birthday 
boxes,  banks  to  be  opened  on  a  certain  day,  or  jugs  to 
be  broken  and  their  contents  counted.  But  if  an 
abiding  interest  in  the  people  of  the  missionary  lands 
has  not  been  created,  these  things  will  in  time  be  put 
away  with  other  "  childish  things."  These  people  are 
so  far  away,  and  so  little  real  knowledge  is  possessed 
of  them  by  the  children,  that  it  seems  diflScult  to  bring 
1  2  Peter  iii.  18.  2  Matthew  xxviii.  19. 

232 


THE  CHILDREN  OF   THE  CHURCH. 

the  two  into  living  touch.  Map  and  blackboard  exer- 
cises  are  all  very  well  in  their  way,  but  to  awaken 
enthusiasm  for,  and  personal  interest  in,  a  country,  a 
stamp  album  seems  to  have  a  special  power.  You  hear 
boys  and  girls  talking  glibly  of  Brazilian  stamps  who 
would  otherwise  never  think  of  Brazil.  A  novel  and 
interesting  way  to  bring  foreign  countries  before  the 
children  is  to  purchase  inexpensive  stamp  albums  for 
them  and  set  them  to  collecting.  The  United  States 
stamps  are  easy  to  obtain,  and  as  an  encouragement 
some  reward  might  be  offered  for  the  most  complete 
and  best  mounted  set.  While  these  are  being  collected, 
a  series  of  lessons  may  be  taught  on  Home  Missions ; 
a  map  of  the  United  States  having  been  procured,  the 
various  schools  and  churches  in  which  the  church  of 
the  children's  denomination  are  interested  may  be 
pointed  out.  The  peculiar  conditions  of  the  people,  as 
the  negroes  of  the  South  or  the  Mexicans  of  the  South- 
west, might  be  set  forth,  and  what  we  can  and  ought 
to  do  to  help  them,  discussed.  Then  later,  as  the 
children  are  able  to  secure  stamps,  each  country  might 
come  in  as  a  lesson.  In  the  case  of  the  civilized  coun- 
tries, such  as  England,  some  facts  might  be  given  as 
to  what  they  are  doing  in  foreign  fields,  also  what  pe- 
culiar work  they  have  to  do  at  home.  It  should  also  \^' 
be  pointed  out  that  what  makes  the  essential  difference 
between  a  civilized  and  an  uncivilized  country  is  the 
religion  of  Jesus  Christ.  In  the  foreign  countries  where 
the  church  of  the  denomination  with  which  the  mission 
band  is  connected  is  working,  after  dwelling  on  the 
condition  and  needs  of  the  people,  the  missionary  sta- 
tions may  be  described  and  interest  awakened  in  the 
missionaries,  their  children  and  the  children  they  teach. 
In  case  the  children  cannot  get  a  stamp  of  such  a  coun- 
try, the  teacher  may  procure  one,  and  after  the  lesson 
233 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

give  it  to  some  member  of  the  band  as  an  encourage- 
ment for  good  work.  It  will  be  found  that  the  mis- 
sionaries will  gladly  help  with  cancelled  stamps  and 
with  special  points  of  interest  to  use  in  the  work.  It 
would  be  well  to  select  from  the  children's  stamps  the 
country  which  will  be  the  subject  for  the  coming  study, 
and  let  them  learn  as  much  as  possible  about  it  in  the 
meantime.  These  and  other  geographical  exercises 
will  be  of  great  value  in  awakening  the  interest  of  the 
children  in  those  less  fortunate  than  they.  And  an 
interest  based  on  an  intelligent  comprehension  of  the 
needs  and  environment  of  the  people  will  be  an  abiding 
one. 

5.  The  band  idea  is  a  good  one,  and  temperance 
workers  have  availed  themselves  of  it  in  gathering  the 
children  into  their  work.  The  Woman's  Christian  Tem- 
perance Union  ^  has  under  its  supervision  the  Loyal 
Temperance  Legion,  which  consists  of  bands  of  young 
temperance  workers  organized  under  the  auspices  of 
some  local  union.  A  work  very  similar  to  this  is  done 
by  that  juvenile  temperance  society  known  as  the  Band 
of  Hope.  In  these  societies  careful  instruction  is  given 
as  to  the  evils  of  intemperance,  and  various  attractive 
methods  employed  to  win  the  boys  and  girls  into  tem- 
perance work. 

1  Mrs.  Catharine  Lente  Stephenson,  Corresponding  Secretary, 
The  Temple,  Chicago,  111. 


234 


THE  SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

THE  SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

The  limits  of  this  book  permit  only  a  brief  mention  of 
some  of  the  methods  of  working  of  that  tremendous 
agency  for  good,  the  Sunday-school.  Many  books  have 
been  written  on  this  subject,  among  them  none  better 
than  Rev.  Dr.  A.  F.  Schauffler's  '<•  Ways  of  Working." 
The  book  abounds  in  suggestions  as  to  methods  of 
work.  Dr.  Schauffler  recommends  object-lessons,  the 
use  of  the  blackboard,  and  commends  especially  a 
Superintendent's  Cabinet,  consisting  of  the  teachers. 
The  meetings  of  this  Cabinet  differ  from  ordinary 
teachers'  meetings  for  the  study  of  the  lesson.  They 
are  for  the  purpose  of  discussing  the  best  ways  of 
working  for  the  school,  and  if  intelligently  carried  on 
will  result  in  arousing  a  hearty  spirit  of  co-operation 
with  the  superintendent  among  the  teachers. 

Another  excellent  work  is  "  Sunday-School  Ways  of 
Working,"  compiled  by  Rev.  Carlos  Tracy  Chester  from 
the  "  Sunday-School  Times,"  and  published  by  that 
paper.  The  book  is  an  epitome  of  the  best  methods  of 
working  in  the  most  successful  Sunday-schools  of  our 
country,  and  is  invaluable  to  every  pastor  and  Sunday- 
school  worker,  being  packed  full  of  practical  sug- 
gestions. 

1.  The  question  of  attendance  is  a  very  important 
one  to  the  Sunday-school,  both  as  to  getting  new 
scholars  and  retaining  in  regular  attendance  the  old 
ones.  To  secure  new  scholars,  the  Brick  Church  of 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  issues  the  following  card  to  be  used 
by  Sunday-school  scholars. 
235 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 


BRICK  CHURCH  SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

To  the  Superintendent : 

Below  please  find  name  and  address  of  a  person 
I  know  of  not  now  attending  Sunday-school  who, 
I  think,  might  he  gotten  into  our  School  by  your 
personal  attention  and  effort. 


Please  sign  your  own  name  and  address. 

POSSIBLE   NEW  SCHOLAR. 

Name, 

Address, 

Remarks, 

Return,  when  filled  out,  to  Rev.  G.  B.  F.  Hallock, 

10  Livingston  Park. 


The  persons  whose  names  are  thus  obtained  are 
immediately  visited  by  the  superintendent,  who  when 
he  has  secured  the  promise  of  a  child  to  attend  the 
next  Sunday,  gives  him  a  card  to  present  at  the  door, 
as  follows :  — 


Introducing 


i^ccepttott  CITommittee  of  tijc  Bricit  (fTfjitrcfj  Suntiag^sctjooL 

G.  B.  F.  Hallock,  Assistant. 

The  Sunday-school  meets  at  12  o'clock,  noon. 

A  member  of  the  Reception  Committee  will  be  in  waiting  at 
the  door  of  the  Sunday-school  room  to  welcome  you.  Bring  this 
Card  with  you. 

Regular  Church  Services  every  Sunday  morning  at  10.30,  and 
Evening  at  7.30.    All  are  cordially  welcome. 


236 


THE  SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

Some  churches  distribute  printed  invitations  by 
means  of  teachers  and  scholars,  while  pastors  of 
other  churches  issue  a  circular  letter  to  members  of 
the  school,  urging  them  to  make  personal  effort  to 
bring  new  scholars,  and  award  a  banner  to  the  class 
bringing  the  largest  number  within  a  quarter. 

With  regard  to  retaining  and  encouraging  regular 
attendance  at  the  school,  various  plans  have  been 
tried.  Some  schools  rely  on  punch  marks  made  in  a 
record  card,  presented  each  Sabbath  at  the  door.  In 
other  schools  attendance  is  encouraged  by  a  roll  of 
honor  for  punctuality,  regularity,  and  acquaintance 
with  the  lesson.  The  Church  of  the  Ascension,  New 
York,  has  in  its  Sunday-school  the  following  somewhat 
strict  rule,  —  the  object  being,  perhaps,  to  bring  into 
exercise  that  peculiarity  of  the  human  race  which 
makes  it  appreciative  of  that  which  requires  effort  to 
retain:  "The  name  of  any  pupil  who  is  absent  three 
successive  Sundays  without  excuse  shall  be  removed 
from  the  Sunday-school  roll,  and  notice  sent  to  the 
parent.  Such  a  name  may  be  reinstated  twice  on 
application  to  the  Secretary,  but  three  such  removals 
shall  exclude  the  piqoil  from  attendance  at  the  school 
during  the  rest  of  the  year."  This  school  aims  at 
great  thoroughness  in  the  matter  of  preparation  of 
the  lesson,  and  gives  badges  of  scholarship  at  the 
end  of  each  quarter  to  those  whose  proficiency  and 
neatness  are  shown  by  the  work  done  in  the  Quarter- 
lies. Certificates  are  given  to  those  who  pass  satis- 
factory examination. 

2.  Reports  from  the  teachers  may  be  used  as  an 
agency  for  gathering  facts.  First,  as  to  classes  them- 
selves, when  a  schedule  may  be  sent  to  each  teacher  to 
be  filled  out  so  as  to  indicate  the  spiritual  condition  of 
the  class.  The  reports  give  the  names  of  scholars 
237 


MODERN  METHODS  IN   CHURCH   WORK. 

who  are  members  of  the  church,  those  who  are 
Christians  but  not  members  of  the  church,  those  who 
do  not  call  themselves  Christians,  and  those  who  will 
begin  the  Christian  life  at  once. 

Second,  reports  of  teachers  may  be  used  to  find 
facts  to  assist  in  reaching  families  whose  children 
attend  the  Sunday-school  while  the  relatives  are  non- 
attendants,  as  indicated  by  the  blank  below.  This  is 
in  use  in  the  Brick  Church  of  Rochester,  N.  Y. 


TO  THE  TEACHER. 

Please  give  below  the  names  and  addresses  of  any 
Parents,  Relatives,  or  Friends  of  your  Scholars,  who 
do  not  attend  church  regularly,  or  who  attend  the 
Brick  Church  but  are  not  members  nor  renters  of 
sittings. 

Please  be  as  explicit  as  possible  in  your  statements, 
being  sure  to  give  at  least,  — 

1.  The  Scholar's  name  and  address. 

2.  The  names  and  addresses  of  his  or  her  Parents,  Relatives, 
or  Friends  as  above,  with  their  relationship  to  Scholar. 

3.  Their  general  practice  with  regard  to  church  attendance. 

Any  other  facts  which  you  consider  important  will 
be  thankfully  received. 

Superintendent. 


3.  The  Home  Department  of  the  Sunday-school  may 
be  made  a  very  effective  adjunct  to  the  church.  The 
object  of  this  organization  is  to  engage  in  Bible  study 
those  who  cannot  well  be  members  of  the  regular  Sun- 
day-school,—  the  sick,  the  aged,  busy  mothers,  and 
families  who  live  so  far  from  the  church  as  to  render 
it  inconvenient  or  impossible  to  attend.  The  work 
and  study  is  under  the  direction  of  a  Home  Depart- 
ment superintendent,   assisted  by  visitors,  who  each 

238 


THE  SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

have  charge  of  a  class.  They  visit  each  member  of 
this  class,  have  friendly  and  spiritual  conversation 
with  him,  and  take  him  the  lesson  helps,  receiving  at 
the  end  of  the  quarter  the  report  of  each  member,  with 
whatever  offering  to  the  benevolent  objects  of  the 
church  such  member  may  wish  to  give. 

The  advantages  of  this  home  work  may  be  thus 
briefly  summarized:  — 

1.  It  develops  the  study  of  the  Bible. 

2.  It  briugs  its  students  into  relationship  with  other 
students  of  the  Word. 

3.  It  brings  its  students  into  relationship  with  the 
Church  and  Sunday-school. 

4.  It  promotes  Christian  usefulness. 

5.  It  increases  benevolent  contributions ;  one  Home  De- 
partment contributed  in  one  year  forty  dollars,  another  one 
hundred  and  thirty,  and  another  two  hundred  and  thirty. 

6.  It  increases  attendance  on  the  main  school.  One  city 
school  of  eight  hundred  members  reports  that  one  hundred 
and  thirty-nine  were  transferred  in  nineteen  months  from 
the  Home  Department,  which  numbered  two  hundred  and 
seventy-five  at  the  outset. 

7.  It  brings  new  attendants  to  the  church  services.  In 
one  Sunday-school  fifty  persons  were  brought  to  church 
attendance  in  less  than  two  years. 

Finally :  thousands  of  souls  have  been  led  to  Christ  and 
have  united  with  the  Church  through  the  instrumentality  of 
the  Home  Department.^ 

Mr.  W.  A.  Duncan,  Ph.  D.,  who  originated  this 
movement,  has  published  a  very  complete  little  pamph- 
let which  sets  forth  the  whole  plan  of  its  working,  and 
which  he  cheerfully  furnishes  on  application  to  him  at 
Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

4.  Teachers'  Meetings  and  Normal  Classes.  The 
superintendent  of  a  Sunday-school  is  sometimes  re- 
1  Home  Classes,  by  W.  A.  Duncan,  Ph.  D.,  pp.  59-64. 

239 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CliUKCH  WOKK. 

garded  as  entirely  responsible  for  its  well-being,  while 
the  fact  is  that  upon  the  teachers  as  well  as  upon  the 
superintendent  depends  the  welfare  of  the  school.  It 
is  therefore  important  that  teachers  should  not  only 
be  consecrated  men  and  women,  but  also  should  be 
trained  for  their  work.  Teachers'  meetings  are  valu- 
able, but  sometimes  difficulty  is  experienced  in  get- 
ting the  teachers  to  attend.  It  seems  impracticable 
in  many  congregations  to  hold  such  meetings  on  an- 
other night  than  the  evening  of  the  mid-week  prayer- 
meeting.  To  hold  them  before  that  service  seems 
early ;  to  postpone  them  till  afterward,  quite  too  late. 
The  Congregational  and  Presbyterian  combined  church 
of  Storm  Lake,  Iowa,  has  a  plan  which  admirably 
meets  the  difficulty.  The  teachers  and  officers  meet 
at  some  one  of  the  homes  at  six  o'clock  for  tea, — a 
plain  tea,  restricted  to  four  articles  of  food.  At  six- 
thirty,  they  commence  the  study  of  the  Sunday-school 
lesson  and  continue  it  until  time  to  go  to  prayer-meet- 
ing, where  the  Sunday-school  lesson  of  the  coming 
week  is  the  subject  of  the  service.  The  pastor,  Rev. 
J.  MacAllister,  writes,  "We  have  been  greatly  bene- 
fited by  it." 

But  aside  from  the  general  study  of  the  teachers' 
meeting  some  more  specific  training  seems  to  be  needed 
if  our  teachers  are  to  reach  the  highest  degree  of  effi- 
ciency. To  meet  this  demand,  normal  classes  have 
been  carried  on  with  the  happiest  results  in  many 
schools.  The  superintendent  in  a  school  blessed  with 
such  a  training-class  is  at  no  loss  where  to  find  a  sub- 
stitute teacher  who  has  made  special  preparation  for 
teaching  the  lesson  of  the  day.  In  some  schools  such 
a  class  meets  for  study  at  the  time  of  the  Sunday- 
school  session ;  but  in  the  Central  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  there  is  a  teachers'  supply 
240 


THE  SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

and  training  class  which  meets  once  each  month  or 
oftener  at  call  of  teacher  or  class.  The  members  of 
this  class,  which  is  limited  to  twenty-five,  pledge  them- 
selves to  study  and  prepare  the  lesson  each  week,  and 
conscientiously  to  respond  when  called  upon  to  teach 
a  class. 

Rev.  E.  P.  Armstrong,  in  an  article  in  the  ' '  Sunday- 
School  Times"  of  September  5,  1895,  entitled  "The 
Sunday-School  of  the  Future,"  gives  us  a  very  lofty 
ideal  for  a  Normal  class.  He  would  have  it  include  a 
course  in  mental  and  moral  philosophy,  pedagogics, 
child  mind,  and  kindergarten,  as  well  as  a  systematic 
study  of  the  Bible.  He  would  also  have  in  the  Sunda.y- 
school  a  department  of  archaeology,  giving  instruction 
in  antiquities  of  all  descriptions,  and  a  department  of 
Old  Testament  Hebrew  and  New  Testament  Greek. 
Such  a  conception  of  the  office  of  the  Sunday-school  in 
training  pupils  and  teachers  lifts  it  out  of  all  narrow- 
ness and  gives  breadth  to  our  view  of  its  mission. 
While  we  may  not  be  able  to  reach  this  high  standard 
of  preparation  for  its  service,  we  may  improve  on  the 
methods  with  which  we  have  hitherto  been  content, 
and  realizing  our  ' '  high  calling  "  may  earnestly  strive 
the  better  to  prepare  ourselves  for  its  duties. 


16  241 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 


CHAPTEK  XXIX. 

LECTURES   TO   BOYS   ONLY. 

*'  It  is  far  better  to  be  innocent  than  to  "be  penitent ; 
To  prevent  the  malady  is  better  than  to  invent  the  remedy.*' 

The  Bible  places  great  emphasis  on  purity  of  life.  In 
the  Second  Letter  of  Paul  to  the  Church  at  Corinth  he 
said,  "Beloved,  let  us  cleanse  ourselves  from  all  de- 
filements of  the  flesh  or  spirit;  perfecting  holiness  in 
the  fear  of  God."  ^  Dr.  C.  Irving  Fisher,  in  speakiug 
of  physical  purity  in  its  social  aspect,  says,  "  There  is 
no  subject  on  which  Scripture  is  more  plain  and  out- 
spoken, no  subject  in  which  science  and  Scripture  more 
fully  sustain  one  another."  ^  Yet  I  doubt  if  we  as  a 
church  realize  the  dangers  surrounding  our  youth.  It 
may  not  be  .regarded  as  altogether  strange  if  we  do 
not.  We  are  not  all  scientists,  and  the  penalty  of  sow- 
ing "wild  oats"  has  not  always  been  apparent  to  us. 
Surrounded,  as  the  most  of  church  people  are,  by  the 
sweet  and  drawing  influences  of  home,  it  is  hard  to 
realize  that  our  children  or  the  children  about  us  may 
wander  from  the  life  of  purity  which  the  Bible  enjoins. 
If  there  is  danger,  what  would  we  not  do  to  keep  our 
boys  and  our  girls  pure !  But  those  who  have  looked 
into  the  subject  strongly  assert  that  there  is  danger, 
and  sustain  their  assertions  by  most  startling  facts. 
It  is  appreciation  of  the  startling  revelation  which  has 
been  made  by  science  in  recent  years  that  has  given 
1  2  Corinthians  \ai.  1.  2  Manuscript  lecture. 

242 


LECTURES  TO  BOYS  ONLY. 

rise  to  lectures  to  men  only.  But  the  objection  to 
these  lectures  to  men,  as  an  eminent  phj^sician  has 
said,  is  that  the  lectures  are  heard  too  late  in  life, 
given  when  men  may  mourn,  but  when  they  cannot 
undo,  the  past. 

It  is  not  strange  that  those  who  have  given  years 
of  careful  study  to  the  subject  of  personal  purity  are 
urging  that  there  are  important  truths  regarding  our 
bodies  that  even  boys  and  girls  ought  to  know.  True, 
much  is  learned  at  some  time  or  other  of  the  human  or- 
ganism by  the  study  of  general  anatomy  and  physiol- 
ogy, much  that  is  of  real  value  and  essential  to  the 
maintenance  of  the  highest  state  of  health  and  vigor. 
But  there  are  parts  and  functions  of  the  body  that  are 
not  mentioned  or  explained  in  these  studies  and  can- 
not be  in  mixed  classes  of  boys  and  girls.  To  the  ob- 
jection which  some  parents  make  to  speaking  to  their 
children  of  the  mysterious  laws  of  their  being,  —  that 
sooner  or  later  the  children  will  come  into  possession 
of  this  knowledge,  —  Professor  B.  G.  Wilder  says, 
^  For  this  reason  sooner  rather  than  later  should  the 
children  receive  instruction.'^ 

Now,  why  should  not  the  pastor  take  the  boys  of  his 
church  and  of  the  community  and  see  to  it  that  they 
have  what  one  has  called  *'  perfect,  rational,  godly  in- 
formation"? It  may  be  urged  that  this  instruction 
should  be  left  to  the  parents,  but  it  is  doubtful  whether 
they  would  give  such  instruction,  and  it  is  not  always 
prudery  that  restrains  them ;  some  parents  do  not  re- 
alize the  importance  of  this  teaching,  and  many,  if  they 
did  realize  the  importance,  would  not  have  the  tact  or 
the  facts  for  presenting  the  matter  in  the  best  way. 
It  might  be  well  when  giving  such  a  lecture  to  request 
the  boys  to  bring  a  written  permission  from  their  par* 
1  What  Young  People  Should  Know,  p.  166. 
243 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

ents  to  attend.  Dr.  V.  P.  English  tells  of  a  school- 
teacher who  discovered  that  many  of  his  pupils  were 
greatly  injuring  themselves  by  violating  certain  laws  of 
the  system,  and  he  kindly  tried  to  explain  and  to  re- 
claim several  of  the  boys.  Says  Dr.  English:  "A 
few  appreciated  his  kindness,  but  the  greater  number 
did  not,  and  many  of  their  parents  and  friends  be- 
came angry  and  treated  the  teacher  in  a  shameful 
manner,  supposing  that  he  had  done  something  very 
censurable."  ^ 

There  are  many  reasons  for  instructing  our  children, 
at  a  very  early  age,  regarding  the  nature  of  their  being 
and  the  penalty  of  transgressing  its  laws.  The  first 
reason  is  to  prepare  the  boy  to  meet  the  influence  of 
the  baneful  information  that  comes  to  him  outside  of  his 
own  home.  "  We  have  got  to  recognize  the  fact  that 
information  of  the  most  dangerous  sort  is  waiting  for 
the  boy  the  moment  he  leaves  his  mother's  side."  ^  In 
the  general  discussion  which  followed  a  lecture  delivered 
by  Dr.  C.  Irving  Fisher  before  the  Congregational 
Union,  New  York  City,  a  story  was  told  by  a  clergyman 
of  a  minister's  son  who  came  to  his  father  and  repeated 
something  he  had  heard  and  something  that  one  of  the 
boys  had  prompted  him  to  do,  and  he  told  his  father  be- 
cause he  had  been  urged  to  come  to  him  if  he  wanted 
anything  explained.  Through  this  revelation  by  the  boy 
the  father  found  out  that  the  sons  of  some  of  the  best 
people  in  his  church  —  the  very  best  families  —  were 
given  to  some  of  the  most  wicked  sins.  Volumes  might 
be  written  showing  how  this  temptation  comes  to  boys 
whom  we  suspect  of  having  no  temptation.  The  trouble 
is  that  we  think  our  boy  cannot  go  wrong ;  the  sooner 
we  realize  that  every  boy  can  go  wrong  and  that  every 

1  Plain  Talk  to  Young  Men,   p.  16. 

2  Manuscript  lecture  by  C.  Irving  Fisher,  M.D. 

244 


LECTURES  TO  BOYS  ONLY. 

Doy  is  in  danger,  guard  him  as  we  will,  the  sooner  we 
shall  break  over  the  prudery  which  sometimes  controls 
us,  show  him  that  God  has  made  all  things  pure,  and 
then  in  a  straightforward,  manly  way  warn  and  in- 
struct, and  so  help  to  a  life  of  purity. 

Another  reason  for  thus  instructing  boys  is  that 
through  ignorance  they  are  often  entrapped  by  those 
"  who  proclaim  themselves  by  hand-bills,  and  in  cer- 
tain newspapers  which  find  profit  in  a  disreputable 
column."  ^  The  eyes  of  bright  boys  scan  even  the  ad- 
vertising column  of  the  newspaper,  and  no  hand-bill 
or  poster  escapes  them.  Their  minds  are  inflamed,  says 
Dr.  Hall,  by  "vicious  reading;  from  perusing  books 
which  are  sent  gratis  and  postj^aid  by  cart-loads  to 
all  parts  of  the  country  .every  year,  through  the  agency 
of  the  newspapers,  with  advertisements  headed  in  this 
wise,  —  taking  a  city  daily,  at  this  present  writing,  — 
and  which  are  copied,  for  large  '  consideration,'  by  the 
country  press  (nor  are  all  of  our  religious  papers 
guiltless  of  this  damning  iniquity)  :  '  To  the  Unmar- 
ried,' '  Marriage  Guide,'  '  Physiology,'  '  The  Benevo- 
lent Association,'  '  Physiological  Inquiries,'  '  Young 
Man's  Book,'  '  Warning  to  Young  Men,'  '  Manhood,' 
'  Physical  Debility,'  with  a  variety  of  other  headings. 
These  publications  have  the  same  aim,  object,  and 
end  :  ...  by  speciousness  of  argument  and  reasoning 
and  statements,  to  mislead  the  mind,  inflame  the  im- 
agination, cori'upt  the  heart,  and  eventually  degrade 
the  whole  character.   .  .  . 

"  It  is  an  often  remarked  fact  that,  among  the  young 
gentlemen  who  attend  a  first  course  of  medical  lec- 
tures, there  are  many  who  imagine  themselves  the  vic- 
tims of  each  disease  as  it  is  presented  by  the  lecturer. 

1  What  Young  People  Should  Know,  by  Professor  B.  G.  Wilder, 
p.  135. 

245 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

And  any  person  not  versed  in  medicine  can  scarcely 
read  a  book  on  any  disease,  without  beginning  to  im- 
agine that  he  has  many  of  its  symptoms ;  leaving  us  to 
suppose  that  imagination  has  something  to  do  in  caus- 
ing or  at  least  in  aggravating  some  maladies.  It  is 
not  surprising,  then,  that  youths  in  their  teens,  or  just 
entering  manhood,  in  reading  a  treatise  strongly 
depicting  the  ultimate  effects  of  certain  symptoms, 
alleged  to  be  connected  with  certain  conditions  of  the 
system,  should  run  riot  in  their  fears  and  throw  them- 
selves helplessly  into  the  hands  of  those  who  seem  to 
know  so  much  on  the  subject,  and  by  their  own  ac- 
counts have  such  remarkable  success  in  their  line.  In 
every  one  of  these  books,  without  exception,  certain 
symptoms  are  mentioned  (not  peculiar  to  any  one  dis- 
ease, but  common  to  a  number,  or  may  exist,  and  if 
let  alone,  in  time  disappear  of  themselves)."  ^  Thus 
an  uncounted  number  of  young  lives  every  year  are 
wrecked,  and,  though  unnoticed,  this  great  evil  has  as 
many  victims  annually  as  has  the  saloon.  We  must 
believe  regarding  this  matter  what  eminent  Christian 
physicians  tell  us.  As  further  evidence  that  this  evil 
is  widespread  may  be  mentioned  the  large  number  of 
advertisements  in  the  papers  on  such  subjects  as  lost 
manhood,  physical  debility,  and  kindred  subjects.  If 
the  quack  advertisers  did  not  meet  with  large  results, 
we  could  be  sure  that  they  would  not  so  advertise. 

Another  reason  that  may  be  urged  for  thus  instruct- 
ing our  boys  is  that  the  knowledge  of  the  consequences 
of  certain  evil-doing  would  restrain  them  from  such 
transgression.  We  can  easily  teach  them  that  there 
are  laws  or  rules  for  the  different  members  or  organs 
of  the  human  body  which  are  called  physical  laws; 

1  Quoted  by  Professor  B.  G.  Wilder  in  his  "  What  Young  People 
Should  Know,"  pp.  136-138. 

246 


LECTURES  TO  BOYS  ONLY. 

that  the  breaking  of  these  laws  causes  pain  and  sick- 
ness.^ We  can  further  tell  them  that  the  breaking  of 
certain  laws  entails  greater  suffering  than  the  breaking 
of  other  laws.  It  is  startling  to  hear  it  afQrmed  that 
*'  a  larger  share  of  sorrow,  poverty,  and  vice  depends 
upon  the  want  of  proper  education  in  regard  to  the 
legitimate  uses  of  the  reproductive  organs  and  to  their 
illegitimate  uses  than  upon  the  perversion  or  improper 
indulgence  of  any  other  human  propensity."  ^ 

It  is  not  necessary  here  to  mention  other  reasons 
which  might  be  given  for  teaching  our  youth  to  avoid 
that  which  is  wrong,  and  so  help  them  to  grow  up  with 
vigorous  bodies  into  true  manhood. 

When  the  lectures  are  given  to  boys  only,  it  may  be 
well  to  speak  of  the  White  Cross  Society  or  the  Silver 
Cross  Society ;  the  object  of  both  these  societies  being 
prevention  rather  than  reform.  The  White  Cross  So- 
ciety^ is  a  movement  distinguished  in  being  a  work 
by  young  men;  the  following  is  the  White  Cross 
Pledge :  — 

I, ,  promise  by  the  help  of  God: 

I.  To  treat  all  women  with  respect,  and  endeavor  to 
protect  them  from  wrong  and  degradation, 

II.  To  endeavor  to  put  down  all  indecent  language  and 
coarse  jests. 

III.  To  maintain  the  laws  of  purity  as  equally  binding 
upon  men  and  women. 

IV.  To  endeavor  to  spread  these  principles  among  my 
companions,  and  to  try  and  help  my  younger  brothers. 

V.  To  use  every  possible  means  to  fulfil  the  command- 
ment "  Keep  thyself  pure." 

1  True  Manhood,  by  E.  E.  Shepherd,  p.  69. 

2  Quoted  iu  Professor  B.  G.  Wilder's  "  What  Young  People 
Should  Know,"  p.  161. 

8  Mr.  Willoughby  R.  Smith,  General  Secretary,  224  Waverley 
Place,  New  York. 

247 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

The  Silver  Cross  Society  ^  was  organized  in  1886  by 
the  Eev.  B.  F.  De  Costa,  D.D.,  of  New  York  City, 
one  of  the  first  leaders  of  the  White  Cross  Movement 
in  this  country.  The  ' '  Silver  Cross  "  was  organized  to 
meet  the  growing  need  of  such  a  society  for  boys.  Its 
members  are  known  as  ' '  Knights  of  the  Silver  Cross ; " 
the  following  is  the  pledge :  — 

I, ,  promise  by  the  help  of  God: 

I.  To  treat  all  women  with  courtesy  and  respect,  and  to 
be  especially  kind  to  all  persons  who  are  poorer  or  weaker 
or  younger  than  myself. 

II.  To  be  modest  in  word  and  deed,  and  to  discourage 
profane  and  impure  language,  never  doing  or  saying  any- 
thing I  should  be  unwilling  to  have  known  by  my  father 
or  mother. 

III.  To  avoid  all  conversation,  reading,  pictures,  and 
amusements  which  may  put  impure  thoughts  into  my 
mind. 

IV.  To  guard  the  purity  of  others,  especially  of  com- 
panions and  friends,  and  avoid  speaking  or  thinking  evil. 

V.  To  keep  my  body  in  temperance,  soberness,  and 
chastity. 

By  using  these  pledges  at  the  time  of  the  lecture  to 
boys  and  young  men,  which  lecture  ought  to  be  given 
as  often  as  once  a  year,  also  by  circulating  these 
pledge  cards  through  the  Sunday-school  classes  and 
church  societies,  as  may  be  practicable,  much  can  be 
done,  I  believe,  to  help  our  young  men  and  to  cultivate 
that  purity  of  heart  without  which  no  man  can  see 
God. 

1  Rev.  B.  F.  De  Costa,  D.D.,  President,  224  Waverley  Place, 
New  York  City. 


248 


THE  BOYS'  CLUB. 


CHAPTEK  XXX. 

THE   boys'   club. 

Two  little  boys  whose  appearance  plainly  showed  that 
they  were  brothers  approached  the  Superintendent  of  a 
Boys'  Club  in  New  York  City,  and  applied  for  mem- 
bership. "Are  you  brothers?"  kindly  asked  the 
superintendent.  "  No,  Sir !  "  replied  one  of  the  boys ; 
"  we 's  only  twins."  This  anecdote  is  at  least  illus- 
trative of  the  fascinating  interest  of  work  for  boys. 
Away  down  under  the  ignorance,  mischief,  or  dis- 
obedience of  every  boy,  there  is  a  heart.  But  as  time 
goes  on,  that  heart  may  be  hardened.  At  seventeen 
the  young  man  may  be  hard  to  reach,  at  thirty  almost 
impossible  to  get  hold  of,  and  at  fifty  steeped  in 
iniquity  or  bound  fast  with  the  chains  of  unbelief. 
But  while  he  is  young  we  may  reach  him ;  and  his  boy- 
ish delight  in  games  and  pictures  and  his  thirst  to 
know  about  new  things  may  be  turned  to  good  account 
in  leading  him  up  to  better  things. 

There  are  boys  in  every  community  who  need  some 
outlet  for  the  superabounding  energy  of  youth-time. 
Other  boys  are  untrained,  wild,  and  ready  for  any  kind 
of  mischief  that  can  vex  the  souls  of  their  quieter 
neighbors.  There  are  churches  also  in  every  commu- 
nity, and  consecrated  money,  and  those  who  are  anxious 
to  do  the  Lord's  work.  These  two  groups,  the  need 
and  the  supply,  ought  to  be  brought  together  and 
result  in  some  permanent  work  being  undertaken  for 

249 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

the  lads.  It  is  within  the  power  of  almost  any  church 
to  establish  a  boys'  club.  It  may  be  held  in  the  Sun- 
day-school room  or  church  parlors,  or  better  still  in 
some  room  especially  devoted  to  that  purpose.  It 
should  be  well  equipped  with  games,  with  periodicals 
and  illustrated  papers.  Cabinets  containing  speci- 
mens of  various  kinds  may  be  provided,  and  the  boys 
encouraged  to  make  additions  to  them.  Tables  to 
accommodate  two,  or  at  most  four,  should  be  arranged 
for  reading,  and  the  books  and  magazines  put  on 
reading-racks.  Games  that  are  at  the  same  time  in- 
structive and  entertaining  are  most  desirable,  and 
should  be  used  at  tables  seating  not  more  than  four 
boys.  A  rule  in  force  in  many  clubs  pro\4des  that 
every  boy  must  be  occupied  with  a  book  or  game,  or  he 
is  not  allowed  to  remain  in  the  room.  Men  or  women 
may  come  in  and  play  on  the  piano  for  the  boys  dur- 
ing the  evening,  without  interrupting  them  at  their 
reading  or  games.  Or  on  another  night  they  may  be 
required  to  lay  aside  all  employment  and  listen  to  a 
talk  on  some  instructive  subject,  such  as  Electricity, 
Temperance,  or  How  the  President  is  elected,  or  the 
description  of  some  beautiful  part  of  the  world,  or  the 
display  of  some  works  of  art.  The  very  best  is  none 
too  good  for  the  coming  man.  Besides  these  evenings, 
there  should  be  at  least  one  ' '  quiet  evening "  in  the 
week,  w^hen  the  boys  have  nothing  but  their  books  and 
games. 

On  every  evening  there  should  be  short  religious 
exercises  of  some  kind,  a  short  passage  of  Scripture 
and  a  short  prayer,  or  the  Lord's  Prayer.  A  good 
time  for  this  is  about  one  half  hour  before  the  closing 
of  the  club.  I  have  been  surprised  that  some  clubs 
never  have  such  religious  exercises.  A  great  opportu- 
nity for  good  is  thus  lost.  If  it  is  a  Catholic  commu- 
250 


THE  BOYS'   CLUB. 

nity,  the  Grospel  may  be  sung  into  their  hearts,  instead 
of  being  read.  But  by  all  means  let  there  be  the 
positive  influence  of  worship  upon  the  boys. 

During  suitable  seasons,  outings  may  be  arranged 
for  the  club,  picnics  and  excursions  by  boat  or,  if  in 
the  country,  by  wagon.  These  will  require  consider- 
able tact  and  executive  ability  to  manage  successfully, 
but,  if  well  carried  out,  they  will  become  fruitful  in 
opportunities  of  getting  close  to  the  boys'  hearts. 

Some  clubs  have  gymnasiums,  which  are  simple  or 
elaborate,  as  circumstances  permit.  And  almost  all 
clubs  have  the  Penny  Provident  Fund.  Again,  there 
are  classes  in  carpentry,  bracket-carving,  type-setting, 
drawing,  stenography,  and  similar  helpful  studies.  A 
small  charge,  say  two  cents  an  evening,  is  sometimes 
made  for  these.  And  some  churches  charge  a  penny 
an  evening  for  the  privileges  of  the  club. 

One  person  should  be  in  charge  of  the  club,  but  dif- 
ferent people  may  be  pledged  to  come  in  on  certain 
evenings  and  assist  with  the  management.  But  few 
rules  are  needed  for  governing  a  club.  One  thing 
that  must  be  insisted  on  is  cleanliness ;  and  to  this  end 
there  should  be  facilities  for  washing  dirty  hands  and 
faces.  In  cities,  the  door-keeper  quietly  notices  the 
boys  as  they  come  in,  and,  when  necessary,  requires 
that  they  qualify  for  entrance  by  use  of  soap  and 
water;  the  return  to  homes  of  squalor  of  such  boys 
with  clean  hands  and  faces  has  a  leavening  influence. 
Orderly  behavior  and  abstinence  from  tobacco  and 
rough  language  will  naturally  be  required.  No  boy  is 
permitted  to  go  home  without  permission  from  the 
superintendent  before  8  or  8.30  p.  m.  To  send  a 
boy  from  the  room  is  usually  found  the  severest  and 
most  reformatory  measure  for  breaking  rules.  On 
three  such  dismissals,  the  boy  is  suspended  from  the 
251 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

club  for  as  many  weeks  as,  in  the  judgment  of  the 
superintendent,  may  seem  best.  The  following  mem- 
bership card,  in  use  in  many  clubs,  is  presented  by  the 
holder  each  evening,  and  is  punched  by  the  door- 
keeper on  entrance :  — 


1 

23456789 

10         11 

i 

BOYS'  CLUB. 

FIRST  AVENUE  AND  63d  STREET. 

(Entrance  on  63d  Street,) 

MemhersUp  Ticket  No. 

Name, 

Date, 

..Supt. 

93 

SS          t5          88          SZ          IS          03          CI 

81          11 

It  may  be  remarked  in  passing  that  there  have  been 
many  signal  failures  in  conducting  boys'  clubs.  Other 
clubs  have  met  with  marked  success.  And  the  above 
rules  and  the  above  arrangement  of  tables,  literature, 
and  games  is  the  plan  in  operation  in  the  successful 
ones. 

The  expense  of  these  clubs  is  small.  Different 
individuals  will  be  found  willing  to  pay  for  different 
juvenile  papers,  some  publishers  will  contribute  pa- 
pers, and  for  ten  dollars  a  quantity  of  good  games  can 
be  procured.  Further  entertainment  can  be  provided 
for  the  boys  in  inexpensive  ways. 

Out  of  the  contact  with  the  lads  in  the  club-room, 
many  opportunities  to  serve  them  will  naturally  arise. 
The  superintendent  will  visit  them  and  will  have 
others  visit  them  in  their  homes,  will  be  attentive  when 
they  are  sick,  sending  flowers  and  delicacies  when 
possible,  and  will  assist  them  to  find  employment 
when  needed. 

252 


THE  BOYS'  CLUB. 

There  are  clubs  in  some  churches  that  have  a  mili- 
tary form.  Among  these  are  the  Battalion  Club  of 
St.  George's  Church,  New  York;  the  Temple  Guards, 
an  organization  for  older  boys ;  and  Temple  Cadets  for 
younger  ones  in  Grace  Baptist  Temple,  Philadelphia. 
Then  there  is  a  club  which  other  churches  have  or- 
ganized, called  the  Knights  of  King  Arthur.^  It  is 
modelled  on  the  Boys'  Brigade  without  its  military 
features. 

There  are  also  clubs  for  temperance  work,  among 
them  the  Knights  of  Temperance,^  and  Young  Crusa- 
ders,^ which  have  been  extensively  organized  in  the 
Episcopal  Church. 

The  club  may  be  made  a  power  for  good  among  the 
boys  of  any  community.  Its  attractions  will  keep 
them  off  the  streets  at  night,  the  association  with 
Christian  men  and  women  will  elevate  their  ideals,  and 
through  the  kindness  of  the  church  people  they  will  be 
drawn  into  the  Sunday-school  and  ultimately  into  the 
Kiugdom. 

There  is  another  kind  of  boys'  club  which  may  be 
formed  among  boys  of  any  class.  They  are  called 
*'Ten  Times  One,"  "  Lend-a-hand,"  or  "Harry  Wads- 
worth"  clubs.  ^  Their  work  is  on  the  plan  of  the 
King's  Daughters  and  Sons,  and  they  wear  the  same 
badge  and  have  the  same  motto.  These  clubs  usually 
consist  of  ten  members.  The  first  one  was  formed 
among  the  bootblacks  of  New  York,  and  they  took  it 
for  their  work  to  take  home  the  drunken  men  that 

1  Rev.  Wm.  B.  Forbush,  Ph.  D.,  General  Secretary,  Yarmouth, 
N.  S. 

2  For  information,  cards  of  membership,  etc.,  address  Church 
Temperance  Society,  281  Fourth  Avenue,  New  York. 

3  Mrs.  Bernard  Whitman,  Secretary,  3  Hamilton  Place,  Boston, 
Mass. 

253 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

they  found  in  the  streets,  and  to  carry  water  to  the 
poor  washerwomen  who  lived  in  the  highest  stories  of 
the  tenement  houses.  Of  these  original  ten,  seven 
have  been  traced  and  found  to  be  holding  honorable 
places  in  life.  A  Lynn,  Mass.,  club  reads  the  news- 
papers and  goes  where  they  read  that  people  have 
been  injured  to  see  what  they  can  do  to  help.  A 
Maine  club  makes  and  collects  toys  to  give  to  poor 
children  at  Christmas.  Another  devotes  itself  to 
bringing  in  children  into  the  Sunday-school  of  the 
chui'ch  with  which  the  boys  are  connected.  Any  line 
of  work  is  open  to  clubs  of  this  character,  and  no  ser- 
vice is  too  small  to  be  undertaken  by  these  lads 
working  "In  His  Name."  These  clubs  are  worthily 
commended  to  us  in  their  mottoes:  — 

"  Look  up  and  not  down, 
Look  forward  and  not  back, 
Look  out  and  not  in, 
Lend  a  hand." 
And, 

"Now  abide  faith,  hope,  and  love,  and  the  greatest  ol 
these  is  love." 


254 


THE  BOYS'  BRIGADE. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 


The  Boys'  Brigade  was  organized  in  Glasgow,  Scot- 
land, by  William  A.  Smith  of  the  First  Lanark  Rifles. 
Mr.  Smith,  like  all  Sunday-school  workers,  found  how 
exceedingly  difficult  it  is  to  keep  boys  in  the  Sunday- 
school  after  the  age  of  twelve  or  thirteen.  The  Boys' 
Brigade  was  his  solution  of  the  problem.  The  first 
company  was  organized  in  this  country  in  August, 
1889,  in  the  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church,  San 
Francisco,  Cal.  Since  then  the  number  of  com- 
panies has  constantly  increased.  The  aim  of  the 
Boys'  Brigade  is  briefly  outlined  in  its  motto,  "  the 
advancement  of  Christ's  kingdom  among  boys,  and 
the  promotion  of  habits  of  reverence,  discipline,  self- 
respect,  and  all  that  tends  toward  a  true  Christian 
manliness."  Its  practical  success  depends  upon  the 
keeping  of  the  pledge,  which  reads  as  follows :  — 

"  I  solemnly  promise,  that  while  I  am  a  member  of  the 
Boys'  Brigade,  I  will  abstain  from  the  use  of  all  intoxicating 
liquors,  and  tobacco,  and  the  use  of  profane  and  vulgar  lan- 
guage. I  also  promise  that  I  will  faithfully  obey  aU  the 
company  rules  and  regulations,  and  will  always  strive  for 
the  best  interests  of  the  company.  I  also  promise  to  serve 
honorably  in  the  company  in  which  I  enlist,  until  trans- 
ferred to  another  company,  or  honorably  discharged  by  the 
company  officers." 

The  methods  in  common  use  are :  first,  the  military 
drill  according  to  the  infantry  drill  regulations  of  the 
255 


MODEKN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

United  States  Army;  second,  the  Bible  drill;  third, 
the  summer  camp.  To  these  have  been  added,  in 
many  companies,  the  missionary  meeting,  prayer  meet- 
ing, and  reading  club.  Also  in  connection  with  almost 
all,  there  are  clubs  for  football,  baseball,  gymnasium 
work,  etc.  Whatever  will  tend  to  make  the  boys' 
lives  brighter,  healthier,  happier,  and  better  may  appro- 
priately be  incorporated  into  the  Brigade.  When  the 
boys  are  in  camp,  the  military  discipline  is  still  in 
force.  The  reveille,  which  calls  to  early  rising,  the  roll- 
call,  which  insures  the  presence  of  all,  the  drill,  and  the 
relaxation  of  the  day,  give  a  brief  outline  of  camp 
life.  The  presence  of  the  officers  and  the  strict  mili- 
tary discipline  as  to  bounds  gives  confidence  to  anx- 
ious mothers,  and  the  enjoyment  that  the  boys  get  out 
of  these  annual  outings  no  pen  can  describe.  Even 
guard  duty  becomes  a  proud  privilege.  Ambulance 
drill  is  one  of  the  departments  of  practical  usefulness. 
Instruction  as  to  laws  of  health,  care  of  the  injured, 
and  other  important  facts  are  given  by  physi- 
cians and  surgeons  who  are  to  be  found  in  every 
community,  willing  to  give  this  help  without  charge. 
Military  bands  have  also  proved  a  very  attractive 
feature  of  the  Boys'  Brigade.  Boys  of  musical  taste 
often  find  in  the  Brigade  for  the  first  time  the  opportu- 
nity to  develop  their  talents.  Every  company  must 
be  connected  with  some  religious  organization,  and 
every  member  of  the  Brigade  must  be  a  member  of  the 
Sunday-school.  The  commissioned  officers  of  a  com- 
pany must  be  approved  by  the  church  with  which  the 
company  is  connected. 

This  movement  has  three  headquarters  in  the  United 

States :  Brigade  Headquarters  for  the  United  States, 

23    Nevada     Block,    San    Francisco,    Cal. ;     Central 

Division  Headquarters,  399  Thirty-third   Street,  Chi- 

256 


THE  BOYS'   BRIGADE. 

cago,  HI. ;  and  Eastern  Division  Headquarters, 
38  Burroughs  Street,  Boston,  Mass.  Every  com- 
pany is  enrolled  at  one  of  these  headquarters,  and 
may  obtain  supplies  there.  The  age  limit  varies, 
seldom  being  younger  than  twelve,  and  varying  be- 
tween that  and  eighteen  and  twenty-one.  The  officers 
are  always  chosen  for  sterling  piety.  Upon  them 
depends  not  only  the  discipline  and  military  success 
of  the  Brigade,  but  its  spmtual  life.  The  officer  is 
"guide,  philosopher,  and  friend"  to  the  boys  of  his 
company.  To  him  they  turn  for  counsel ;  to  him  they 
bring  their  troubles.  He  comforts  them  in  sorrow, 
finds  work  for  them  when  needed,  and  stands  by  them 
in  all  places  where  they  need  a  friend.  Standing  be- 
fore them  on  drill  night,  he  gives  them  a  five  or  ten 
minutes'  talk  on  some  simple  religious  subject.  The 
drill  is  followed  by  a  short  prayer.  Standing  Order 
No.  1  usually  directs  that  the  company  shall  report  at 
Sunday-school  every  Sunday  until  further  notice. 
Sometimes  the  company  has  its  own  special  Bible 
class.  Always  the  boys  are  made  to  feel  that  the 
motto  of  their  organization,  "Advancement  of  Christ's 
kingdom  among  boys,"  is  the  great  object  of  their 
organization  and  is  to  be  lived  up  to  with  military 
exactness. 

In  regard  to  the  uniform,  Professor  Henry  Drum- 
mond  thinks  we  are  shockingly  extravagant  in  this 
country,  with  our  jaunty  and  complete  uniforms.  He 
tells  us  that  in  Scotland  the  only  uniform  needed  or 
used  is  a  twenty-five-cent  cap  and  a  fifty-cent  belt. 
But  when  we  remember  how  dear  to  the  boys  are  the 
stripes,  the  epaulettes,  and  shining  buttons,  and  that 
oftentimes  the  wealthy  and  generous,  perhaps  child- 
less, members  of  the  church  gladly  furnish  the  means 
to  afi'ord  our  boys  this  harmless  gratification,  we  can 
17  257 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

under  such  circumstances  afford  to  be  liberal.  How- 
ever, where  such  help  in  purchasing  the  uniforms  is  not 
forthcoming,  and  where  the  cost  of  equipment  stands 
in  the  way  of  any  boy's  becoming  a  member  of  the 
Brigade,  let  the  uniform  go.  We,  as  well  as  the  good 
people  of  Scotland,  can  "  make  a  boy  for  seventy-five 
cents."  Mr.  Drummond  tells  us  that  the  rifle  in  use  in 
Scotland  costs  one  dollar.  In  this  country,  where  the 
model  gun  with  which  it  is  impossible  to  fire  a  shot  is 
used,  the  cost  is  more.  The  expenses  of  the  Brigade 
are  met  in  some  cases  by  a  twenty-five-ceat  member- 
ship fee  on  the  part  of  the  boys  and  five  cents  a  mouth 
thereafter.  In  other  churches,  the  older  people  assist 
the  Brigade  by  becoming  honorary,  annual,  or  life 
members. 

And  now  what  is  the  benefit  to  the  boy,  that  so 
much  time  and  patience,  money  and  thought,  are  to 
be  lavished  on  this  organization?  Let  us  consider  for 
a  moment  what  are  the  virtues  that  we  wish  to  incul- 
cate in  the  boys  about  our  own  firesides.  Are  they  not 
punctuality,  neatness,  courtesy,  obedience,  and  rever- 
ence, as  well  as  spirituality?  The  boy  who  comes  a 
moment  late  to  drill,  finds  the  door  locked ;  the  one 
who  appears  with  dirty  face  and  hands  is  dismissed  to 
wash  them,  —  and  these  things  are  not  done  by  any 
arbitrary  dictum,  it  is  military  rule,  and  as  such  is 
submitted  to,  for  the  most  part,  with  a  good  grace.  Is 
not  this  of  prime  importance  to  the  wild  street  urchin 
who,  not  many  days  hence,  will  hold  the  ballot  in  his 
hand  ?  Do  we  not  know  that  respect  for  constituted 
authority  forms  the  basis  for  good  citizenship?  Obe- 
dience to  the  oflScer,  to  the  rule  of  the  company,  —  that 
is  also  the  rule  from  headquarters,  —  begets  obedience 
to  the  law  of  the  land,  and,  may  we  not  hope,  to  the 
wise  commands  of  the  great  Law-giver?  Then,  cour- 
258 


THE  BOYS'   BRIGADE. 

tesy,  to  touch  Ms  hat,  would  be  to  the  street  boy  the 
greatest  exhibition  of  dandyism ;  to  salute  his  superior 
officer,  on  the  other  hand,  with  the  rules  of  the  Brigade 
to  justify  such  action,  is  quite  the  proper  thing  to  do- 
From  courtesy  to  reverence,  the  step  seems  short ;  and 
yet  what  heart  would  not  be  touched  at  the  sight  of 
heads,  black,  brown,  and  yellow,  bent  reverently,  as 
with  cap  in  hand  the  boys  repeat  the  Lord's  Prayer  at 
the  close  of  the  drill?  And  worship  and  religious  ex- 
ercises, let  it  be  remembered,  have  part  in  all  their 
meetings.  What  opportunity  is  here  for  spiritual  in- 
fluence, for  the  developing  and  nurturing  of  manly 
Christian  character ! 

On  the  physical  side,  the  arguments  are  too  well 
known  in  favor  of  the  drill  as  a  means  of  expanding 
chests  and  straightening  backs,  to  call  for  more  than  a 
passing  word.  The  great  army  of  parents  who  choose 
a  military  school  for  their  growing  boys  bears  sufficient 
testimony  to  the  benefit  they  expect  their  sons  to  derive 
from  the  drill  and  the  discipline.  Through  the  attrac- 
tiveness of  the  Brigade  many  evenings  which  possibly 
would  otherwise  be  spent  on  the  street  or  in  idle  and 
demoralizing  talk,  are  occupied  in  helpful  and  ennobling 
exercise  and  study. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  is  sometimes  charged  that  the 
Boys'  Brigade  tends  to  spread  the  military  spirit,  which 
is  contrary  to  the  genius  of  Christianity,  or  even  to  the 
advancing  spirit  of  civilization.  "  Why,"  it  is  asked, 
"  when  the  Church  is  constantly  urging  the  advantages 
of  arbitration  over  the  sword,  should  she  train  up  a 
body  of  young  warriors  within  her  gates?"  In  this 
connection  we  cannot  do  better  than  to  quote  the 
words  of  Professor  Henry  Drummond :  "  Contrary  to 
a  somewhat  natural  impression,  the  Boys'  Brigade  does 
not  teach  '  the  art  of  war,'  nor  does  it  foster  or  encour- 
259 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

age  the  war  spirit.  It  simply  employs  military  organi- 
zation, drill,  and  discipline,  as  the  most  stimulating 
and  interesting  means  of  securing  the  attention  of  a 
volatile  class,  and  of  promoting  self-respect,  chivalry, 
courtesy,  esprit  de  corps,  and  a  host  of  other  kindred 
virtues.  To  these  more  personal  results,  the  military 
organization  is  but  an  aid.  .  .  .  As  to  the  retort  that 
the  end  can  never  justify  such  means,  it  is  simply  to 
be  said  that  the  '  means  '  are  not  what  they  are  sup- 
posed. To  teach  drill  is  not  to  teach  the  '  art  of  war,' 
nor  is  the  drill  spirit  a  war  spirit.  Firemen  are  drilled, 
policemen  are  drilled ;  and  though  it  is  true  that  the 
cap  and  belt  of  the  boys  are  regalia  of  another  order, 
it  may  be  doubted  whether  drill  is  any  more  to  them 
than  to  these  other  sons  of  peace."  ^ 

So  Mr.  Drummond  disposes  of  the  arguments  against 
the  Boys'  Brigade  in  a  few  sentences ;  the  things,  on 
the  other  hand,  to  be  said  in  its  favor  would  fill  a  book. 
The  boys  for  Christ,  the  boys  of  all  nationalities,  the 
rich  and  the  poor,  is  the  aim  and  end  of  the  organiza- 
tion. It  is  a  grand  way  to  encourage  the  lads.  May 
they  be  encouraged  till  the  military  spirit  in  Chi'istian 
duty  prevails  with  old  and  young! 

^  Christianity  Practically  Applied,  p.  248. 


260 


INDUSTRIAL  CLASSES. 


CHAPTEK  XXXII. 

INDUSTRIAL    CLASSES. 

We  have  come  in  recent  years  into  a  larger  appreci- 
ation of  the  value  of  industrial  training,  —  thanks  to 
the  introduction  of  the  Sloyd  System,  the  Armour 
and  Jacob  Tome  Institutes,  and  other  notable  indus- 
trial institutions.  The  advantages  of  manual  training 
are  more  than  at  first  sight  appear.  Carpentering, 
for  example,  in  addition  to  its  practical  value,  supplies 
a  healthful  training,  without  becoming  a  mere  trade ; 
trains  to  general  dexterity  and  promotes  physical 
development;  disciplines  the  faculties  of  the  mind; 
cultivates  the  perception  of  form  and  order;  teaches 
neatness;  trains  the  power  of  comparison;  aids  con- 
centration of  thought;  awakens  respect  for  manual 
labor ;  inculcates  love  for  the  true  and  a  taste  for  the 
beautiful.  "What  a  wealth  of  blessings  for  the  Church 
to  bring  within  reach  of  her  boys !  With  this  mental 
and  physical  equipment  may  easily  come  the  higher 
gift  of  spiritual  training,  and  the  lessons  of  the  New 
Testament  will  gain  vividness  as  the  boys  realize  that 
He  who  spoke  the  golden  words  once  labored  like 
themselves  amid  the  chips  and  shavings  of  the  car- 
penter's bench.  There  is  another  thing  which  is  very 
suggestive  in  the  consideration  of  industrial  training 
in  its  relation  to  the  Church :  two-thirds  of  the  con- 
victs in  the  penitentiaries  of  the  United  States  are 
young  men  under  thirty-five  years  of  age,  and  over 
one-half  of  these  young  men  never  learned  a  trade. 
261 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

All  that  is  said  of  the  advantages  of  carpentering 
applies  in  most  respects  to  other  forms  of  industrial 
training,  the  kitchen-garden,  cooking,  sewing,  bracket- 
making,  wood-carving,  wood-engraving,  and  so  forth. 
It  is  not  possible  for  a  church  to  go  fully  into  manual 
training,  but  something  may  be  done  with  classes 
in  carpentry  and  wood-carving  for  the  boys,  and 
kitchen-garden,  cooking,  and  sewing  for  the  girls. 

I.  Carpentering-Classes.  In  organizing  carpen- 
tering-classes,  it  may  be  possible  to  find  some  mechanic 
in  the  church  who  will  gladly  give  his  time  on  certain 
evenings  to  teach  the  boys  and  at  the  same  time  exert 
a  Christian  influence  over  them.  If  no  such  person  is 
available,  then  the  salary  of  a  teacher  may  be  raised 
by  personal  contributions  and  the  small  admission  fee 
to  classes  of  fifteen  cents  per  month, — which  is  the 
charge  in  many  schools.  In  most  cases  it  will  be  im- 
possible to  give  the  boys  more  than  a  rudimentary  knowl- 
edge of  the  trade ;  but  if  they  are  able  to  do  little  jobs 
of  repairing  at  home,  it  will  prove  a  benefit  to  them. 

Mr.  E.  Scotter  makes  the  following  pertinent  sug- 
gestions for  teaching  carpentry:  first,  in  all  cases 
the  why  and  wherefore  of  the  object  must  be  fully 
explained,  and  drawings  made  by  the  boy  himself; 
secondly,  he  must  be  shown  how  beautifully  the  prin- 
ciples of  mechanics  enter  into  the  work  and  the  tools ; 
thirdly,  he  must  have  few  tools  and  rough  pieces  of 
board  to  work  with,  and  must  be  allowed  to  finish  his 
own  work  and  taught  from  the  first  to  utilize  waste. 
Mr.  Scotter  says:  "One  aim,  at  least,  of  all  true 
education  is  to  forestall  and  provide  against  the  diffi- 
culties of  common  life.  Surrounding  the  boy  with 
many  appliances  which  he  will  never  be  able  to  obtain 
when  he  leaves  the  school  work-shop  is  decidedly 
a  worse  policy  than  allowing  him  to  experience  the 
262 


INDUSTRIAL  CLASSES. 

common  difficulties  of  life  when  and  where  he  will  be 
best  instructed  in  battling  with  them."^  The  fore- 
going is  encouragement  for  the  church  which  is  unable 
to  provide  the  expensive  appliances  of  the  regular 
training  schools,  to  believe  that  with  few  tools  and 
rude  materials  she  may  be  able  to  teach  the  boy 
lessons  of  accuracy  and  skill  which  will  serve  him  well 
in  the  struggle  of  life. 

The  Sloyd  System  of  manual  training  may  be  taken 
up  by  the  church.  This  differs  from  ordinary  car- 
pentry work  in  that  its  primary  object  is  not  to  teach 
the  child  a  trade,  but  to  educate  him.  The  tools  used 
comprise  all  the  essential  ones  of  carpentry,  but  in 
Sloyd  the  knife  is  always  used  instead  of  the  chisel. 
One  reason  why  Sloyd  could  be  better  carried  out  in 
a  church  than  other  training  is  that  in  carpentering  there 
are  many  things  which,  if  done  at  all,  must  be  done  by 
a  turning-lathe,  while  the  Sloyd  provides  for  hand- work 
in  every  case.  The  pupils  in  Sloyd  who  are  about 
ten  or  eleven  years  of  age  do  their  work  by  copying 
a  series  of  models,  and  absolute  accuracy  is  aimed  at. 
The  work  is  not  to  be  painted  or  polished ;  when  com- 
pleted, it  may  be  taken  home,  but  is  not  to  be  sold. 

II.  The  Kitchen-Garden.  The  kitchen-garden, 
which  is  usually  taken  up  before  cooking-lessons,  is 
very  comprehensive,  as  it  takes  in  all  of  the  operations 
of  housework,  exclusive  of  cooking.  The  materials 
for  an  outfit  for  twenty-four  girls,  including  kinder- 
garten tables,  chairs,  dishes,  and  household  imple- 
ments, cost  only  one  hundred  dollars.  The  work  is 
accompanied  by  music,  and  a  piano  is  a  very  desirable 
adjunct  to  the  lessons.  Each  child  is  provided  with 
a  miniature  outfit  of  utensils  for  performing  the  work 
of  the  day,  and  individually  does  the  task  assigned 

1  Westminster  Review,  October,  1892. 
263 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  AVORK. 

to  the  class.  Besides  the  songs  which  in  general  out- 
line what  is  to  be  done,  there  are  a  series  of  questions, 
the  answers  to  which  are  given  in  concert  by  the  class. 
In  teaching  table-setting,  each  child  has  a  small  oval 
table  in  front  of  her  on  the  large  table,  and  she  is  taught 
how  to  lay  the  covers  carefully  and  methodically,  and 
dispose  of  the  table  appliances.  In  dish-washing 
the  whole  operation  is  performed  by  each  child  and 
practical  instructions  given  at  every  step.  In  wash- 
ing and  ironing,  everything,  even  the  care  of  the  tubs 
and  flatirons,  is  systematically  taught ;  while  in  caring 
for  a  room,  such  points  as  the  careful  treatment  of 
bric-a-brac  are  not  overlooked.  In  addition,  the 
duties  of  a  parlor  maid,  including  answering  the  door- 
bell, are  taught,  and,  incidentally,  the  proper  way  to 
make  and  receive  a  call.  Punctuality  and  neatness 
are  inculcated,  and  the  importance  of  system  and 
attention  to  details  is  urged.  It  is  a  valuable  drill 
to  those  who  otherwise  would  have  little  buthap-hazard 
ways  of  doing  things,  and  is  a  needed  instruction  for 
girls  of  all  classes.  Girls  of  every  rank  in  life  need  to 
be  brought  together  on  a  common  plane  of  respect  for 
household  service.  The  child  who  takes  part  in  the 
pleasant  exercises  of  the  kitchen-garden  can  never  feel 
that  contempt  for  household  tasks  that  too  often  most 
unjustly  condemns  an  honorable  vocation. 

"  A  servant  with  this  clause 
Makes  drudgery  divine ; 
Who  sweeps  a  room  as  for  Thy  laws 
Makes  that  and  th'  action  fine." 

Miss  Emily  Huntington,  the  inventor  of  the  kitchen- 
garden,  whose  work  entitled  "The  Kitchen-Garden" 
gives  full  instructions  for  teaching  it,  makes  the  follow- 
ing suggestions  in  taking  up  this  work:  "A  room  in 
a  sunny  situation,  which  is  given  up  especially  to  the 
264 


INDUSTRIAL  CLASSES. 

kitchen-garden,  is,  of  course,  to  be  preferred.  It  should 
have  a  bright  paper  on  the  walls,  and  be  decorated 
with  the  charts,  brooms,  and  tins,  as  well  as  furnished 
with  kindergarten  tables  and  chairs.  A  large  closet 
to  keep  the  material  in  should  open  out  from  it. 
Such  a  room  should  be  in  constant  use,  being  occupied 
by  different  sets  of  children.  It  is  not,  however,  a 
necessity.  A  class  can  be  taught  in  any  room  where 
there  is  enough  space  to  have  two  tables  and  chairs  or 
benches  for  twenty-four  children.  Or,  if  the  room  is 
not  large  enough  for  this,  there  should  be  a  smaller 
class  and  one  table.  .  .  .  One  teacher  acts  as  the  leader ; 
she  should  have  two  or  three  assistants  who  will  be  at 
the  piano  and  oversee  the  tables.  The  classes  meet 
for  two  or  three  hours  weekly.  An  interesting  plan 
would  be  for  fifteen  or  twenty  young  ladies  each  to  buy 
a  kindergarten  table  of  her  own  accommodating  six 
scholars,  provide  herself  with  her  own  outfit,  and  be 
responsible  for  the  advancement  of  her  own  six  pupils. 
They  could  meet  in  a  large  hall,  open  the  exercises  with 
a  song  in  which  the  entire  school  would  join,  and  then 
separate  into  classes,  much  as  is  done  in  Sunday-school. 
The  lesson  would  of  course  be  uniform.'* 

In  conducting  kitchen-garden  classes,  as  well  as 
every  other  kind  of  educational  work  under  the  charge 
of  the  church,  the  opening  exercises  should  be  of  a 
religious  character.  To  fail  in  this  regard  is  to  lose 
sight  of  the  end  for  which  the  church  is  laboring  in 
all  this  work  for  the  uplift  of  mankind. 

III.    Cooking-Classes. 

We  may  live  without  friends ;  we  may  live  without  books ; 
But  civilized  man  cannot  live  without  cooks. 

He  may  live  without  love,  —  what  is  passion  but  pining  ? 
But  where  is  the  man  that  can  live  without  dining  ? 

Lucile, 
265 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

The  poor  man  is  the  one  who  suffers  most  often 
from  an  illy  prepared  or  meagre  meal.  Rising  from 
his  unsatisfactory  repast  of  sodden  potatoes,  sour 
bread,  and  tepid  coffee,  the  working-man  feels  an 
aching  void  that  can  find  satisfaction  only  in  the 
saloon.  "  Intemperance,"  says  Professor  John  R.  Com- 
mons, "  is  the  excessive  use  of  some  anaesthetic,  either 
alcohol,  opium,  chloral,  ether,  or  chlorodyne.  .  .  .  An 
unbalanced  nervous  system,  having  its  origin  in  many 
different  causes,  gives  rise  to  the  most  intense  feel- 
ings of  unrest,  irritability,  and  a  peculiar  '  nagging  * 
sensation,  as  though  the  whole  body  were  in  a  state 
of  terrible,  unceasing  agitation.  These  feelings,  accom- 
panied by  the  memory  derived  from  previous  expe- 
rience on  the  part  of  the  sufferer,  that  alcohol  or  some 
other  anaesthetic  will  quiet  the  nerves,  creates  the 
irresistible  craving  for  that  anaesthetic.  It  is  a 
morbid  appetite,  but  it  is  overwhelming,  and  is  far 
more  inexorable  than  the  simple  appetite  of  taste  for 
some  palatable  drink."  ^  It  has  been  claimed  that  the 
French,  by  reason  of  their  consumption  of  light  wines, 
have  their  natural  appetite  for  "  something  to  drink  " 
gratified,  and  are  therefore  a  sober  people;  but  some 
one  has  stated  a  better  reason  for  this  temperance, 
saying,  "  The  French  are  a  sober  people,  not  because 
they  drink  wine,  but  because  they  are  good  cooks." 
It  is  the  man  whose  nervous  system  is  satisfied  with 
sufficient  and  nourishing  food  who  does  not  feel  the 
craving  need  which  drives  many  a  one  to  the  dram- 
shop. On  the  other  hand,  to  again  quote  from 
Professor  Commons:  "The  salted  meats  and  the 
adulterated  groceries  of  the  poor,  together  with  the 
ignorance  of  cooking,  are  probably  a  co-operating 
cause  for  more  than  half  our  intemperance.  Children 
1  Christianity  Practically  Applied,  p.  227. 
2G6 


INDUSTRIAL   CLASSES. 

are  brought  up  without  wholesome  or  sufficient  food, 
their  bodies  are  starved  and  puny;  and  when  they 
grow  older  and  are  compelled  to  work,  their  strength 
cannot  withstand  the  nervous  strain.  Intoxicating 
drink  is  their  inevitable  refuge.  I  know  of  no  tem- 
perance reform  more  urgently  needed  than  cooking- 
schools."  ^ 

Efforts  have  been  made  in  the  various  cities  to 
supply  the  working-man  with  meals  at  a  moderate 
price,  and  this,  doubtless,  works  much  benefit  to  the 
unmarried  man.  But  how  about  the  married  men, 
their  wives  and  their  children  ?  Will  the  husband  and 
father  go  and  enjoy  his  meal  in  solitary  comfort? 
HappUy,  the  ties  of  family  are  too  strong  for  such  a 
course.  The  remedy  clearly  lies  in  educating  the  wife 
and  mother  so  that  all  may  enjoy  the  comfort  of  good 
cooking. 

Aside  from  the  evil  of  bad  cooking  as  a  promoter 
of  intemperance,  it  is  also  a  source  of  great  waste. 
Edward  Atkinson  estimates  that  the  net  loss  from 
bad  cooking  and  waste  is  $1,000,000,000  per  year. 
Through  bad  cooking  the  working-man's  hard-earned 
money  goes  but  a  little  way;  the  family  is  deprived 
of  comforts ;  the  food  is  scant,  and  this  little,  through 
ignorance  and  waste,  falls  far  short  of  the  demands  of 
labor  and  of  health. 

Granting  the  deplorable  need  of  better  cooking 
among  the  working-classes,  how  shall  the  remedy  be 
applied?  One  remedy  is  to  teach  poor  mothers,  whose 
families  are  the  victims  of  their  waste  and  ignorance, 
how  to  do  better,  —  how  to  save  and  how  to  cook. 
Cooking-classes  for  mothers  are  now  conducted  by 
many  churches.  The  women  are  taught  how  to  cook 
food  and  how  to  prepare  the  best  possible  meal  at  the 
1  Christianity  Practically  Applied,  p.  230. 
267 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

least  cost.  But  this  teaching  of  mothers  is  at  best 
only  temporary  relief.  The  real  solution  of  the  prob- 
lem is,  to  use  a  time-worn  formula,  "  to  begin  with 
the  children."  No  worthier  field  for  elevating  the 
masses  is  before  the  church. 

Work  may  be  self-supporting  if  properly  managed. 
To  this  end,  a  thoroughly  competent  teacher  must  be 
engaged,  so  that  private  classes  may  be  obtained  to 
secure  revenue  requisite  to  cover  the  expenses,  inclu- 
sive of  the  free  classes.  The  teacher,  therefore,  must 
be  qualified  to  teach,  not  only  simple  cooking  to  the 
children,  but  also  chafing-dish  receipts  and  fancy 
cooking,  which  many  of  the  patrons  may  wish  to  learn. 
In  the  private  classes  a  charge  will  be  made  also  for 
all  materials  used.  The  prices  will  be  much  greater  for 
single  lessons  than  when  taken  as  a  course  in  a  class. 

In  teaching  cooking  to  children,  it  is  not  necessary, 
as  some  would  have  us  believe,  that  each  child  should 
have  her  separate  outfit  of  table  and  utensils,  so  that 
the  same  operation  may  be  performed  by  all  at  the 
same  time.  This  is  very  pretty  in  theory,  but  involves 
great  expense.  All  that  is  necessary  is  a  long  table, 
several  moulding-boards,  plenty  of  the  ordinary  uten- 
sils for  the  preparation  of  various  articles  of  food,  and 
a  good-sized  range.  In  teaching  the  children,  great 
stress  must  be  laid  on  cleanliness.  In  some  classes 
both  pupils  and  teachers  wear  caps  and  aprons.  These 
are  usually  furnished  by  the  school.  All  ornaments, 
especially  rings,  are  usually  discarded  during  the 
class.  "  Care  must  also  be  taken,"  writes  an  expe- 
rienced worker,  "  to  adapt  the  instruction  to  the 
various  oflSces  which  the  class  expect  to  fill  in  life. 
Many  of  them  may  wish  to  use  their  knowledge  in 
domestic  service;  others  will  only  make  use  of  it  in 
their  homes." 

268 


INDUSTRIAL   CLASSES. 

**  The  CookiDg-Garden  or  Systematized  Course  of 
Cooking-Lessons,"  prepared  by  Miss  Emily  Hunting- 
ton, founder  of  the  Wilson  Industrial  School  in  New 
York,  will  furnish  a  perfect  guide  to  those  who  wish 
to  conduct  a  cooking-school  without  engaging  a  skilled 
teacher.  It  contains  the  music  for  the  songs  used, 
materials  for  the  lectures,  lists  of  articles  required, 
estimate  of  cost  of  materials  used  in  each  lesson,  and 
explicit  directions  how  to  teach  it,  even  reducing  the 
instruction  to  the  form  of  question  and  answer.  The 
lesson  opens  with  a  march,  the  children  to  be,  if  pos- 
sible, accompanied  by  the  piano,  or  they  may  sing  as 
they  march.  They  then  are  seated  and  sing  a  song 
suited  to  the  lesson.  This  is  followed  by  a  short  talk 
or  lecture  on  the  subject  to  be  taught,  after  which  a 
few  questions  are  asked.  Then  the  bill  of  fare  is  read, 
and  the  cooking  begins.  Three  girls  are  assigned  to 
each  receipt.  The  teacher  assists  and  directs  the 
children,  stopping  all  work  and  calling  attention  to 
special  points  as  the  lesson  progresses,  until  the  food 
is  prepared.  Then  the  class  is  seated  and  the  food 
is  eaten.  After  that  some  more  questions  are  asked, 
and  the  class  sing  another  song  and  march  out  of  the 
room.  The  questions  following  the  lecture  are  de- 
signed to  find  out  how  much  the  children  have  retained 
of  the  matter  presented  and  to  emphasize  special 
points ;  the  questions  after  the  cooking,  to  test  the  ac- 
curacy of  the  pupils'  knowledge  of  the  way  things  have 
been  done.  Both  series  of  questions  are  conducted 
with  the  class  seated  and  giving  their  whole  attention 
to  the  teacher.  By  the  use  of  the  plan  outlined  by 
Miss  Huntington,  she  tells  us,  "little  cooking-centres 
can  be  formed  at  comparatively  small  expense.  In  a 
quiet  way,  a  dozen  girls  can  be  gathered  around  a 
cooking-stove,  and  learn  what  will  make  their  lives 
269 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

more   valuable   in  any  home,  whatever  capacity  they 
may  fill,  whether  as  wife,  mother,  sister,  or  friend." 

IV.  Sewing-Classes.  What  a  blessing  it  would  be 
to  the  poor  if  they  only  took  good  care  of  the  little 
they  have !  How  much  more  comfortable  and  econom- 
ical they  could  be  in  dress  if  they  exercised  the  care  in 
keeping  their  clothes  in  repair  that  is  taken  by  people 
in  moderate  cu'cumstances !  The  causes  of  this  lack 
of  thrift  on  the  part  of  the  poor  are  three,  —  careless- 
ness, lack  of  time,  and,  chiefly,  ignorance.  It  is  the 
office  of  the  sewing-school  to  raise  up  a  class  of  women 
among  the  poor  who  shall  know  how  to  mend  and 
fashion  then*  own  garments,  and  also  to  give  skill  in 
the  use  of  that  slender  but  effective  weapon,  —  the 
needle,  —  which  has  in  so  many  cases  been  the  only 
one  at  hand  to  drive  the  wolf  from  the  door.  And  yet 
it  must  not  be  inferred  that  the  sewing-school  is  alone 
for  the  poor.  Sewing  is  something  that  every  young 
woman  should  know,  and  the  sewing-school  has  valu- 
able lessons  and  provides  happy  and  helpful  hours  for 
children  of  all  classes. 

The  requisites  for  a  sewing-class  are  more  simple 
than  for  almost  any  other  work  for  children  that  can 
be  taken  up,  since  the  materials  used  are  much  less  ex- 
pensive than  for  almost  any  other  industrial  work.  It 
is  customary  to  have  a  Directress  who  conducts  the 
general  exercises  of  the  school,  presides  at  the  meet- 
ings of  the  teachers,  and  decides  on  the  merits  of  com- 
pleted work.  Children  of  all  ages  are  admitted  to  the 
school,  a  primary  class  being  conducted  for  the  "  little 
folks."  Each  lesson  is  about  an  hour  and  a  half  long, 
with  an  intermission  of  five  minutes.  The  school  is 
opened  and  closed  with  religious  exercises,  songs, 
scriptural  verses,  the  Lord's  Prayer,  etc.  Sometimes 
at  the  close  of  the  class,  among  poorer  children,  a  piece 
270" 


INDUSTRIAL  CLASSES. 

of  cake  is  given.  This  is  not  given  as  a  reward  for 
their  attendance,  but  to  bring  a  bit  of  brightness  into 
their  lives  and  give  them  a  sense  of  the  teacher's  care 
for  them. 

The  following  outline  of  the  plan  pursued  in  sewing- 
societies  is  largely  taken  from  "  Handbook  for  Sewing- 
School  Teachers,*'^  in  use  in  the  Emmanuel  Chapel 
Industrial  School  and  several  other  schools  in  New 
York. 

According  to  this  plan,  there  is  a  series  or  grades  of 
work,  and  the  children  are  promoted  regularly  from 
grade  to  grade.  A  box  marked  with  her  name  is  as- 
signed to  each  pupil,  and  any  piece  of  completed  work 
is  put  into  this  box,  and  the  whole  given  to  her  when 
she  has  finished  the  course.  This  does  not  preclude 
the  child  from  occasionally  taking  home  work  of  un- 
usual excellence  to  show  to  her  parents.  Such  pieces 
are  then  returned  by  the  child,  and  placed  in  her  box 
with  other  finished  work.  In  teaching  the  children  to 
sew,  the  teacher  begins  with  the  most  elementary  prin- 
ciples :  teaching  how  to  thread  a  needle,  wear  a  thimble, 
and  tie  a  knot.  From  these  foundation  precepts,  the 
work  proceeds  regularly  and  systematically,  from  out- 
lining a  pattern  to  makmg  a  dress,  and  the  children 
are  carefully  trained  in  every  kind  of  sewing.  Some 
schools  have  a  supplementary  class  in  embroidery  and 
cutting  and  fitting. 

Having  completed  the  graded  course  of  instruction, 
the  girl  is  mistress  of  her  needle,  so  far  as  the  ordinary 
needs  of  life  are  concerned.  Making  the  best  of  every- 
thing has  been  inculcated  throughout  the  course,  and 
the  most  thorough  methods  of  doing  work  constantly 
studied.  If  she  puts  these  precepts  into  practice  in  her 
after  life,  she  will  save  herself  many  dollars.  But  of 
1  Published  by  Thomas  Whittaker,  New  York. 
271 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

far  greater  value  to  her  than  this,  has  been  the  teach- 
ing of  the  sewing-class.  Her  hand  and  her  eye  have 
been  trained  together ;  lessons  of  neatness  and  thrift 
have  been  taught  her;  patience  and  sweetness  of  tem- 
per have  been  the  necessary  adjuncts  of  her  work; 
courtesy,  and  the  spirit  of  accommodation  have  pre- 
sided over  her  task.  Under  the  Christian  influence 
that  has  been  the  ruling  spirit  of  the  sewing-class,  it 
will  be  strange  if  her  life  has  not  opened  to  the  recep- 
tion of  that  love  which  has  done  so  much  for  her  in  the 
name  of  Him  who  was  so  familiar  with  the  humble  de- 
tails of  the  homeliest  life  that  He  used  the  lesson  of 
the  "  patch"  in  teaching  the  simple  folk  around  Him. 

Sewing-classes,  as  also  classes  in  Carpentering, 
Kitchen-Garden,  and  Cooking,  are  in  successful  oper- 
ation in  a  large  number  of  churches,  including  almost 
all  denominations  and  many  of  the  most  prominent 
churches  of  our  various  cities. 


272 


DAY  NURSERIES  AND  KINDERGARTENS. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

DAY    NURSERIES   AND   KINDERGARTENS. 

To  the  poor  mother  who  is  necessarily  absent  from 
home  all  day  to  earn  food  for  her  family,  the  Day 
Nursery  offers  most  practical  help.  The  nursery  is 
open  from  7  a.  m.  to  7  p.  m.,  and  a  charge  of  five  cents 
per  day  is  made  for  the  care  and  boarding  of  the  child. 
When  the  little  ones  are  brought  in,  a  bath  is  given, 
if  necessary ;  but  the  parents  are  encouraged  to  bring 
the  babies  clean,  it  being  no  part  of  the  nursery  idea 
to  relieve  the  mother  of  the  proper  responsibility  of  her 
child.  The  children  are  then  dressed  in  clean  clothes, 
and  made  comfortable  for  the  day. 

The  years,  in  most  nurseries,  during  which  a  child 
may  be  brought  to  the  nursery  are  from  the  first  to  the 
ninth,  but  no  child  is  admitted  for  the  first  time  after 
eight  years.  As  soon  as  the  little  one  is  old  enough, 
he  is  put  into  the  kindergarten,  which  is  usually  under 
the  same  roof  as  the  day  nursery.  From  there  he  is 
sent  in  due  time  to  the  public  school.  Up  to  nine 
years  he  may,  however,  outside  of  school  hours,  spend 
the  time  of  his  mother's  absence  at  the  nursery,  return- 
ing thither  at  noon  for  lunch.  The  extension  of  the 
privileges  of  the  day  nursery  to  those  young  children 
who  are  old  enough  to  go  to  school  has  been  forced 
upon  these  institutions  by  the  conditions  of  tenement 
life.  The  mother  going  away  to  work  in  the  early 
morning,  with  no  one  to  leave  in  charge  of  her  chil- 
ls 273 


MODERN  METHODS  IX  CHURCH  WORK. 

dren,  and  not  daring  to  lock  them  in  her  rooms  nor  to 
leave  the  door  unlocked,  is  confronted  with  a  hard 
problem.  In  the  afternoon  the  case  is  still  worse. 
The  children  may  return  to  a  cold,  cheerless  home, 
and  where  there  are  no  loving  arms  to  welcome  them, 
but  the  child  is  rare  who  will  long  remain  there ;  the 
attractions  of  the  street  are  too  great,  and  here  the 
children  go,  —  where  sights  and  sounds  occupy  them, 
and  where  the  evil  lessons  in  one  hour  are  more  numer- 
ous than  the  good  ones  their  teacher  has  been  able  to 
crowd  into  all  the  school  hours.  But  the  accommoda- 
tions of  the  day  nursery  are  limited.  The  influence 
of  these  older  children  is  not  good  over  the  little  ones 
at  the  hour  of  the  day  when  the  best  of  babies  is  feel- 
ing the  need  of  gentle  treatment.  School  children, 
therefore,  cannot  be  admitted  in  great  numbers. 
Thus  we  see  the  streets  crowded  hour  after  hour  with 
the  children  of  the  poor,  amid  e^^.l  surroundings.  A 
much  needed  institution  in  the  larger  cities  is  a  place 
where  school  children  can  be  cared  for  during  the 
hours  outside  of  school,  where  the  innocent  recreations 
of  home  life  will  replace  the  coarse  contact  of  the 
street. 

The  day-nursery  idea  has  been  happily  turned  to 
account  in  another  way.  Many  a  tired  mother  has 
longed  with  soul  hunger  to  respond  to  the  call  of  the 
church  bells  on  Sabbath  mornings,  but  could  not,  for 
there  was  no  one  to  leave  in  care  of  her  darling  child. 
Without  one  thought  of  sacrifice  the  mother  has  gone 
on  singing  her  lullabies,  forgetting  that  they  might 
have  been  sweeter  and  stronger  for  worship  in  the 
house  of  God.  It  is  here  that  the  day  nursery  is 
again  of  real  help.  Many  churches  have  fitted  up  a 
room  in  the  church  where  little  children  may  be  cared 
for  by  an  attendant  during  the  morning  service,  while 
274 


DAY  NURSERIES  AND  KINDERGARTENS. 

their  parents  are  at  worship.  The  Simson  Memorial 
Methodist  Episcopal  Tabernacle,  Los  Angeles,  Cal., 
combines  kindergarten  features  with  its  nursery 
work,  and  reports  a  large  attendance  each  Sabbath 
morning. 

2.  The  Kixdergartex.  The  kindergarten  is  an- 
other way  of  caring  for  children,  and  is  of  great  service 
as  an  educator.  Between  the  time  of  the  physical  care 
of  the  baby  in  the  day  nursery  and  the  time  when  the 
public  school  takes  him,  there  is  a  gap  of  several  years 
when  the  care  of  the  child  is  a  great  responsibility. 
The  capacity  of  a  child  between  the  ages  of  three  and 
seven  for  getting  into  mischief  is  one  of  his  strong 
points.  Then,  too,  he  is  quite  old  enough  to  take  on 
impressions  of  evil,  to  form  habits  that  will  become  a 
part  of  the  furnishing  of  his  moral  nature,  and  with 
each  passing  year  the  tendency  to  wrong-doing,  which 
is  his  birthright,  will  gain  a  stronger  hold  on  him.  It 
is  here  that  the  kindergarten  takes  him  into  its  wise, 
loving,  systematic  embrace,  and  changes  the  current  of 
his  life.  In  some  cities  there  are  free  kindergartens, 
supported  by  private  and  public  benefactions.  But 
where  there  are  not  adequate  accommodations  for  the 
care  of  children  of  this  age,  it  is  quite  in  the  province 
of  the  church  to  establish  and  undertake  the  support  of 
a  kindergarten,  which,  in  connection  with  the  day 
nursery,  will  make  a  safe  shelter  where  the  toiling 
mother  may  leave  her  children,  and  where  other  chil- 
dren of  the  church  may  be  early  trained  by  the  church. 
The  kindergarten  children  bring  a  penny  a  day,  which 
assists  in  buying  the  materials ;  but  the  kindergarten 
must  in  the  main  be  supported.  Does  this  seem  a 
good  deal  to  undertake?  Remember  you  are  getting 
almost  entire  possession  of  the  child's  life  at  the  time 
when  it  is  innocent  of  evil,  and  when  the  spirit  of  good 
275 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

temper,  self-control,  and  unselfishness  may  be  made  a 
part  of  his  daily  growth.  Rev.  Percy  S.  Grant,  rector 
of  the  Church  of  the  Ascension,  New  York,  in  an  ad- 
dress before  the  Free  Kindergarten  Association,  in 
giving  an  account  of  the  opening  of  the  kindergarten 
of  Fall  River,  Mass.,  said:  "As  they  came  to  the 
sehool-room  in  those  first  days,  they  were  dirty,  shy, 
sullen,  and  disobedient,  —  indeed,  the  most  obstinate 
bit  of  material  to  mould  into  intelligence  and  beauty. 
The  school  opened  late  in  the  fall ;  in  about  six  or  eight 
weeks  came  Christmas,  and  no  Christmas  pantomime 
ever  beheld  so  remarkable  a  transformation,  for  when 
the  same  children  gathered  in  a  circle  with  their 
teachers  around  the  wonderful  tree,  there  was  cleanli- 
ness, there  were  brightness  and  alertness,  there  was 
quick  and  Argus-eyed  observation,  there  were  sweet 
manners ;  and  indeed,  it  seemed  to  me  that  there  had 
been  developed  in  those  children  all  that  we  imagine 
should  grace  the  early  years  of  human  life." 

The  kindergarten  takes  hold  of  the  imitative  faculty 
in  the  child,  and  in  giving  him  images  of  beauty  and 
order  to  copy,  replaces  those  which  would  otherwise 
occupy  him.  Thus  we  have  the  spectacle  of  little 
children  *' playing  kindergarten  "  on  the  street,  singing 
the  songs  they  have  been  taught  or  going  over  the 
experiences  of  the  day  in  the  home.  A  perfect  exam- 
ple of  "the  expulsive  power  of  a  new  affection." 
Then,  too,  the  spirit  of  the  kindergarten  is  religious. 
All  the  lessons  point  through  nature  "  up  to  Nature's 
God,  "  and,  as  Mr.  Grant  so  aptly  says,  "  from  the 
beauty  in  life  leads  the  child  to  the  wonder  and 
worship  of  beauty's  Source."  The  songs  are  filled  with 
reference  to  God  and  his  love,  and  lips  that  never  lisp 
the  evening  prayer  at  home  now  raise  the  kindergarten 
prayer  and  thank  the  dear  Lord  — 
276 


DAY  NURSERIES  AND  KINDERGARTENS. 

"For  rest  and  food  and  loving  care, 
And  all  that  makes  the  world  so  fair." 

In  the  Kindergartners'  Report  of  the  City  of  Ne^v 
York,  we  find  the  story  of  a  teacher  who,  one  day  walk- 
ing on  the  street,  came  up  behind  one  of  the  little  girls 
and  heard  her  singing  softly  to  herself,  — 

"  Love  him,  love  him,  all  y^  little  children,  God  is  love." 

Out  of  the  kindergarten  grows  the  Mothers'  Meeting, 
where  the  toilworn  woman  learns  to  see  a  sacredness 
in  motherhood  that  she  never  felt  before,  and  where 
perplexing  problems  may  be  thought  out  and  interest 
in  the  children's  work  cultivated. 

From  the  day  kindergarten  to  the  Sunday  class  is 
but  a  step,  and  many  of  the  methods  found  helpful  in 
the  day  class  will  be  found  effective  there.  The  Sun- 
day-school lesson  abounds  in  opportunity  to  use  the 
precepts  of  Froebel.  Along  no  other  path  may  the 
little  feet  be  so  naturally  led  into  the  green  pastures 
and  beside  the  still  waters  of  the  kingdom  of  God. 


277 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 


CHAPTER    XXXIV. 

TEMPERANCE   WORK. 

There  are  many  knotty  things  about  the  temperance 
question,  and  problems  that  puzzle  and  sometimes  an- 
tagonize the  stanehest  friends  of  temperance.  But  on 
this  much  there  is  agreement :  that  intemperance  is  a 
gigantic  evil  that  the  Church  is  called  upon  to  put  down ! 
It  is  to  be  said,  however,  that  there  is  sometimes  a 
tendency  to  shirk  the  responsibility  and  leave  the  bur- 
den to  other  organizations  outside  the  Church:  the 
Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union,  the  Christian 
Men's  Union,  the  Good  Templars,  and,  for  the  children, 
the  Band  of  Hope  and  the  Loyal  Temperance  Legion. 
These  are  worthy  organizations  and  do  a  noble  work ; 
but  it  would  still  seem  the  province  of  the  Church  to 
teach  its  childhood  and  youth  the  lesson  of  temperance, 
as  well  as  every  other  grace  in  the  beautiful  chain 
beginning  with  faith  and  ending  with  love. 

Temperance  work  may  be  classified  as  follows : 
Educational,  Preventive,  and  Rescue. 

1.  Educational.  The  Brick  Church  of  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  has  a  Temperance  Society  which  consists  of 
four  sections.  Section  I.  includes  all  men  and  boys 
over  sixteen.  Section  II.  all  women  and  girls  over  six- 
teen. Section  III.  all  boys  under  sixteen.  Section  IV. 
all  girls  under  sixteen.  The  principles  of  the  Society 
are  summed  up  as  follows  :  — 

^78 


TEMPERANCE  WORK 

«I.  We  declare  for  total  abstinence  from  alcoholic  liq- 
uors, as  beverages,  for  Christ's  sake  and  for  others'  sake. 

"11.  We  declare  for  uncompromising  hostility  to  the 
saloon.'* 

There  is  no  pledge,  but  every  member  considers  him- 
self bound  to  stand  by  the  principles  of  the  Society,  so 
long  as  he  remains  in  it.  This  Society  uses  the  badge 
of  the  Christian  Men's  Union,  a  blue  button  with  a  red 
cross  stamped  on  it. 

Some  churches  have  temperance  societies  for  the 
young,  with  meetings  of  a  literary  character  held  on 
a  week-day  night.  The  programme  for  the  evening 
consists  of  music,  short  talks,  essays,  and  declamations, 
—  all  bearing  upon  the  subject  of  temperance.  This 
work  among  the  young,  with  scientific  temperance 
instruction,  lessons  in  cooking,  and  work  resulting  in 
the  improvement  of  the  sanitary  condition  of  the  poor, 
all  consei've  the  great  cause  of  temperance. 

2.  Prevention.  But  with  the  fatal  tendency  to 
drink  that  so  many  men  inherit,  and  with  the  frightful 
opportunity  that  the  saloon  gives  for  gratifying  that 
tendency,  what  can  the  church  do  to  furnish  a  counter- 
attraction  to  the  saloon  ?  In  the  first  place,  the  church 
should  study  the  territory  under  its  care,  and  appreci- 
ate the  fact  that  the  men  within  its  bounds  who  have 
learned  to  depend  on  the  saloon  for  their  entertainment 
as  well  as  the  gratification  of  their  appetites  must  be 
won  to  higher  pleasures  and  removed  from  the  scene  of 
temptation.  To  this  end,  pure  and  first-class  amuse- 
ment may  be  provided,  with  music,  which,  bright  and 
attractive  in  character,  shall  take  the  place  of  the  low 
songs  of  the  groggery.  Dr.  John  L.  Scudder,  Pastor 
of  the  Congregational  Tabernacle,  Jersey  City,  N.  J., 
relates  the  following  experience,  which  shows  how 
clearly  he  understands  the  value  of  amusement: 
279 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

"  When  I  was  in  Minneapolis,  two  women  from  the 
Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union  came  to  me  and 
said,  *  Don't  you  think  it  would  be  a  good  thing  to 
start  a  prayer  meeting  over  there  in  Central  Avenue  ?  ' 
*  No,  sisters,'  I  said ;  '  that  is  not  the  thing  for  you  to 
do.  Start  an  amusement  hall,  and  charge  one-half  what 
the  saloon  does.'  They  went  out  of  my  house  as  if 
they  thought  I  was  with  the  devil.  Three  years  ago 
Frances  Willard  wrote  me  a  letter,  saying,  '  I  have 
studied  that  work ;  I  believe  in  it.  We  all  believe  in 
it.  We  are  going  to  make  it  a  department  of  the 
Christian  Temperance  work.'  "  ^  Everything  that  will 
provide  amusement  of  a  proper  kind  for  the  working- 
man,  and  appeal  to  his  higher  being,  is  a  means  of 
counteraction,  and  is  helpful  in  weaning  him  from  the 
saloon.  Professor  John  R.  Commons  well  says:  "To 
merely  tell  a  man  to  quit  drinking  is  mockery.  Tell 
him  to  quit,  and  then  build  up  his  character  so  that  he 
can  have  pleasure  in  better  things."  ^ 

But  the  entertainment  provided  by  the  saloon,  we 
know,  is  not  the  only  or  the  chief  attraction  that  draws 
men  there,  and  to  find  a  substitute  for  the  dram  is 
something  that  will  tax  thought  and  heart  to  the 
utmost.  Coffee-houses  where  a  cup  of  good  coffee  and 
a  sandwich  may  be  had  at  a  nominal  cost  will  prove  a 
formidable  rival  to  the  free  lunch  of  the  saloon,  which 
draws  in  more  people  than  most  of  us  realize.  Many 
men,  too,  on  a  hot  summer's  day  go  into  the  saloon  for 
a  cool  drink  of  beer.  And  why  should  they  not? 
What  else  are  they  to  do?  Let  us  put  up  our  drinking- 
fountains  and  give  them  a  chance  to  get  a  glass  of 
cold  water!     A  butcher  in  a  Western  city  was  remon- 

1  Proceedings  of  the  Open  and  Institutional  Church  League, 
New  York,  1894,  p.  21. 

2  Christianity  Practically  Applied,  p.  234. 

280 


TEMPERANCE  WORK. 

strated  with  by  a  neighboring  saloon-keeper  because 
the  former  had  in  his  market  a  large  tank  filled  with 
ice-water,  accessible  to  the  public.  The  saloon-keeper 
urged  its  removal  on  the  ground  that  it  interfered  with 
his  business.  On  the  outer  wall  of  Calvary  Church  in 
New  York  is  a  drinking-fountain.  Over  it  is  inscribed 
the  following:  ''Praise  God,  from  whom  all  blessings 
flow."  Is  not  this  suggestive  of  a  grand  work  for  the 
Church  to  do,  to  the  praise  of  God  ? 

The  Church  Temperance  Society  of  New  York,  an 
organization  in  the  Episcopal  Church,  has  a  number 
of  night  lunch-wagons,  which  travel  over  the  ground 
occupied  by  the  saloon.  These  offer  to  the  wayfaring 
man  a  substitute  for  saloon  refreshments  of  which 
many  avail  themselves.  This  Society  also  contemplates 
erecting  temporary  summer  pavilions  called  "kiosks  " 
on  the  principal  bicycle  roads  of  New  York  City,  where 
refreshments  and  cool  drinks  will  be  within  convenient 
reach  of  cyclers.  This  is  a  wise  movement.  If  our 
cause  is  to  succeed,  we  must  remember  the  principle  of 
displacement.  "  Refreshment  for  man  and  beast,"  the 
old  signs  used  to  read ;  and  right  here  the  saloon-keeper 
lays  a  trap  for  the  farmer  and  the  teamster.  Almost 
every  public  watering-trough  in  the  vicinity  of  our 
towns  and  cities  will  be  found  in  front  of  a  saloon.  It 
is  easy  to  step  inside  when  the  team  is  watered.  The 
rumseller  knows  this ;  that 's  what  the  trough  is  for ! 
Why  not  combine  the  drinking-fountain  with  the 
watering-trough,  to  greet  the  dusty,  thirsty  traveller? 
So  shall  ' '  the  cup  of  cold  water "  be  many  times 
multiplied. 

The  Church  must  always  be  found  on  the  side  of 

temperance  legislation.     There  are  differing  views  as 

to  the  expediency  of  this  or  that  measure,  designed  to 

promote  temperance  or  to  mitigate  the  evils  of  intern* 

281 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

perance  ;  but  the  constant  aim  of  tlie  Cliiirch  must  be  to 
arouse  the  social  conscience,  and  to  do  all  possible  that 
will  argue  to  the  general  conviction.  With  an  enlight- 
ened public  conscience,  and  the  Church  with  her  far- 
reaching  influence  in  this  great  movement,  the  question 
of  ways  and  means  will  take  care  of  itself,  and  the  host 
pledged  to  temperance  reforms  will  move  on  to 
victory. 

3.  Rescue.  So  far  we  have  considered  the  work  of 
the  Church  in  temperance  with  reference  to  work  with 
those  who  have  not  been  drawn  into  the  drink  habit  and 
those  who  are  not  yet  so  much  enslaved  by  drink  that 
they  may  not  be  won  from  it  by  the  substitution  of 
better  things.  We  must  not,  however,  forget  that 
there  is  a  large  class  for  whom  pure  amusements  have 
no  attraction,  and  who  would  pass  by  the  drinking- 
fountains,  were  they  as  numerous  as  the  saloons. 
Here  lies  the  work  of  rescue.  The  Church  must  take 
her  way  down  where  the  saloon  has  taken  fast  hold  of 
men,  must  find  the  sinner  where  sin  enchains  and  help 
him  to  unloose  the  fetters.  Rescue  work  is  personal. 
He  who  would  touch  a  man,  abandoned,  hardened,  and 
scoffing  must  go  to  him  individually  with  the  Word  of 
Life.  Such  was  the  plan  of  Jerry  McAuley  in  the 
Water  Street  Mission,  New  York;  and  such  is  the 
work  so  successfully  carried  on  in  St.  Bartholomew's 
Mission,  of  which  Colonel  Henry  H.  Hadley  is  superin- 
tendent, in  the  same  city.  At  the  latter  mission  a 
training-class  has  been  opened  for  teaching  the  best 
methods  of  reaching  lost  men.  The  students  in  train- 
ing become,  for  the  three  months  of  their  course,  resi- 
dents in  the  slums  of  the  city,  and  in  addition  to 
receiving  instruction  as  to  the  best  ways  of  teaching  of 
the  All-Sufficient  Saviour,  they  become  during  their 
whole  coui'se  actual  workers  in  such  a  field  as  they 
282 


TEMPERANCE  WORK. 

expect  to  occupy.  The  benefit  is  incalculable.  Each 
student  (and  many  of  them  are  ministers  of  the  gospel) 
carries  with  him  to  his  distant  home  a  heart  burning 
with  new  zeal,  and  yearning  to  put  into  practice  in  his 
own  community  the  methods  of  rescue  he  has  learned. 
It  may  not  be  possible  for  every  church  to  carry  on 
the  rescue  work  to  the  extent  that  is  practised  in  St. 
Bartholomew's,  but  all  may  do  some  work  of  this 
kind.  We  have  had  quite  enough  of  this  looking  at 
drunkards,  shaking  the  head,  and  saying  "Poor  fel- 
low, the  devil  has  him."  The  thing  to  do  is,  by  the 
grace  of  God,  to  take  him  away  from  the  devil !  We 
are  to  seek  the  lost,  —  not  merely  the  respectable  lost, 
but  the  lost^  —  all !  The  blood-stains  of  many  a  poor 
drunkard  are  upon  the  souls  of  Christians. 

A  successful  plan  in  rescue  work,  where  means  are 
limited,  is  to  rent  a  room  in  that  part  of  town  where 
the  saloons  are  thickest.  A  little  organ,  a  few  chairs, 
a  table,  stove,  and  lights  make  up  the  outfit.  Much 
depends  on  the  leader.  He  should  be  a  man  filled  with 
the  Spirit,  and  able  to  see  the  suffering  Saviour  in  the 
sinning  ones  around  him.  With  these  equipments  the 
mission  may  be  opened.  It  will  depend  on  the  sym- 
pathy of  the  church  and  community  for  material  sup- 
port and  co-operation,  in  lending  a  helping  hand  to 
those  who  are  trying  to  stand,  in  finding  employment 
for  those  who  are  ti'ying  to  regain  their  self-respect,  in 
surrounding  the  mission  with  the  heavenly  environment 
of  their  prayers,  and  in  helping  in  the  work  by  their 
personal  interest  and  presence. 

Many  men  will  come  to  the  mission  to  be  in  a  warm 
place  or  for  other  selfish  reasons ;  but  once  there, 
workers  with  the  love  of  God  for  lost  souls  will  find 
a  way  to  give  them  the  warmth  of  a  kindly  greeting, 
to  break  to  them  the  bread  of  life,  and  help  them  to 
283 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

*'  bear  a  song  away."  In  some  missions  the  plan  of 
having  a  lodging-house  with  a  wood-yard  attached, 
where  the  men  may  earn  a  lodging  and  breakfast,  has 
been  successfully  carried  out.  It  is  certainly  very  de- 
sirable to  have  some  place  to  which  those  who  express 
a  desire  to  lead  a  better  life  and  who  have  no  home 
may  be  sent,  otherwise  the  saloon  may  offer  to  them 
the  only  open  door.  The  question  of  the  "  loaves  and 
fishes  "  is  an  important  one,  and  the  rescue-worker  will 
probably  be  many  times  imposed  upon,  but  through  it 
all  will  have  the  comfort  of  knowing  that  the  Master 
counted  the  man  who  was  "in  prison"  with  the  one 
who  was  "  hungry,"  and  ministering  to  both  was  com- 
mended of  Him. 

In  smaller  places  co-operative  missions  have  been 
opened  by  the  union  of  Christian  people  of  several 
churches.  This  brings  the  rescue  mission  into  touch 
with  the  whole  community.  A  Sunday  breakfast  is 
sometimes  an  institution  of  such  a  union,  and  is  pro- 
vided for  by  each  church  in  succession,  or  furnished  in 
common.  And  occasionally  the  young  people  of  each 
church  take  charge  of  the  evening  gospel  meeting. 
Their  glad  songs  prove  an  inspiration  to  the  service, 
and  at  the  after  meeting  they  greatly  assist  in  personal 
work  with  inquirers. 

The  growth  of  spiritual  life  which  a  church  having 
the  rescue  spirit  will  experience  cannot  be  computed. 
A  writer  in  the  "  Christian  Treasury  "  well  sa3^s  :  "  As 
we  view  the  whole  question,  we  cannot  help  seeing  how 
every  effort  that  has  to  do  with  the  uplift  and  redemp- 
tion of  the  human  race  in  the  age  in  which  we  live 
must  in  some  way  centre  around  temperance.  It  must 
be  reckoned  as  part  and  parcel  of  every  effective  phil- 
anthropic and  gospel  endeavor,  for  it  is  the  demon  of 
intemperance  that  meets  us  at  every  turn,  and  thwarts 
284 


TEMPERANCE  WORK. 

our  best  efforts  just  at  the  point  when  they  seem  about 
to  be  crowned  with  success.  Therefore  any  one  who 
would  bring  men  and  women  to  Christ  must  first 
reckon  with  the  foe  that  keeps  so  many  from  the  foot 
of  the  cross.  ...  Is  not  our  response  to  the  cry  of 
the  needy  the  test  of  our  love  to  God?  St.  John  says, 
*  He  who  loves  not  his  brother  whom  he  hath  seen, 
how  can  he  love  God,  whom  he  hath  not  seen  ? '  and 
in  the  same  Epistle  announces  the  true  altruistic  mes- 
sage of  the  Gospel :  '  Hereby  perceive  we  the  love  of 
God,  because  he  laid  down  his  life  for  us,  and  we  ought 
to  lay  down  our  lives  for  the  brethren.' "  ^ 

1  "Women  and  Temperance,  by  J.  G.  W.,  Christian  Treasury, 
January,  1895,  p.  7. 


283 


MODERN  METHODS  IN   CHURCH   WORK. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

HEALING. 

A  poor  man  served  by  thee  shall  make  thee  rich  ; 

A  sick  man  helped  by  thee  shall  make  thee  strong  ; 
Thou  shalt  be  served  thyself  by  every  sense 

Of  service  which  thou  renderest. 

Mrs.  Browning. 

To  heal  the  sick  is  the  bounden  duty  of  the  Church, — 
just  as  much  its  duty  and  work  as  to  minister  to  the 
soul.  And  the  church  which  ministers  only  in  "things 
spiritual "  is  as  far  short  of  the  Christ  ideal  as  he  who 
confines  himself  to  the  ' '  religion  of  humanity. "  In 
ministering  to  the  sick  and  dying,  we  have  the  blessed 
example  of  Him  who  went  about  "  healing  all  manner 
of  diseases,"  and  His  own  divine  conunand  to  "heal 
the  sick."  ^ 

The  Church  is  awakening  more  and  more  to  the 
necessity  of  foreign  missionaries  possessing  some 
knowledge  of  medicine  and  surgery.  In  no  other  way 
can  the  ignorant  man  of  every  race  be  so  quickly 
reached  as  by  the  healing  of  his  body.  God,  who  made 
"  of  one  blood  all  the  nations  of  the  earth,"  has  or- 
dained that  when  a  man  of  any  color  is  sick  and  suf- 
fering, his  heart  becomes  tender  and  impressionable ; 
and  happy  is  he  who  is  able  on  the  one  hand  to  relieve 
physical  suffering  and  on  the  other  to  minister  in 
things  spiritual.  Accustomed  all  his  life  to  the  brutal 
treatment,  the  cutting  and  scarifying  of  the  native 
doctors,  —  the  simple  remedies,  the  cleanliness  of  the 
1  Matthew  x.  8. 

286 


HEALING. 

bandages,  and  the  cooling  nature  of  the  applications 
seem  to  the  poor  heathen  little  short  of  miraculous, 
and  so  he  who  brings  the  bodily  relief  has  made  an 
opening  for  the  other  and  greater  healing.  In  like 
pitiful  state  are  the  ignorant  poor  of  our  cities.  They 
know  more  of  the  nature  and  possibilities  of  medicine, 
yet  the  lack  of  time  and  money  to  secure  "  the  ounce 
of  prevention,"  the  horror  many  of  them  have  of  the 
hospital,  together  with  the  want  of  proper  care  in  the 
crowded  quarters  in  which  they  live,  render  their  ex- 
tremity the  Christian's  opportunity.  To  this  end 
Christian  people  have  established  Dispensaries,  Flower 
and  Fruit  Missions,  the  Order  of  Deaconesses,  and 
deaconesses  and  private  workers  are  sent  out  by  indi- 
vidual churches  for  the  purpose  of  visiting  and  reliev- 
ing the  sick. 

The  methods  in  use  in  the  dispensaries  are  very  sim- 
ple and  effective.  The  dispensary  is  announced  to  be 
open  on  certain  days  at  certain  hours.  The  patients 
gather,  and  the  students  and  physicians  in  attendance 
hold  a  gospel  service  with  them  for  fifteen  minutes. 
They  are  then  seen  individually  in  an  inner  room  in 
regard  to  their  bodily  and  spiritual  ailments.  Mean- 
while personal  workers  in  the  outer  room  further  learn 
of  the  spii'itual  needs  of  those  who  come  for  treatment, 
and  help  them  as  they  can.  In  some  respects  these 
Medical  Missions  have  the  advantage  of  other  efforts 
of  the  same  nature,  since  a  man  seeking  aid  for  his 
body  from  those  whose  known  object  is  the  health  of 
both  body  and  soul,  has  taken  one  voluntary  step  in 
the  direction  of  seeking  such  help,  thereby  placing 
himself  in   a  receptive  state. 

St.  Bartholomew's  Church,  New  York,  in  addition  to 
a  free  dispensary,  has  a  medical  clinic,  a  surgical  clinic, 
and  a  night  clinic  for  the  eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat. 
287 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

Grace  Church,  New  York,  has  two  physicians  and  a 
trained  nurse  employed  by  its  St.  Luke's  Association ; 
maintains  a  diet  kitchen  for  the  sick,  and  Grace  Hos- 
pital in  three  departments  for  men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren. Grace  Baptist  Chui-ch,  Philadelphia,  has  founded 
the  Samaritan  Hospital,  which  accommodates  twenty- 
four  patients,  and  has  in  connection  with  it  a  training- 
school  for  nurses.  Religious  services  are  held  in  this 
hospital  every  Sunday  afternoon. 

While  all  churches  may  not  be  able  to  maintain  a 
hospital  or  dispensary,  great  good  can  be  done  in  going 
with  fruit,  flowers,  and  delicacies  for  the  sick  among 
the  sufferers  in  the  hospitals  and  in  private  homes. 
We  are  long  familiar  with  sick-committees  in  our 
churches,  whose  special  duty  is  to  show  the  interest  and 
remembrance  of  the  church  of  its  members  in  some  real 
way  in  times  of  sickness.  This  same  interest  should 
be  shown  in  the  godless  and  non-church-goers  of  the 
community,  though  they  are  perfect  strangers.  Such 
Christlike  interest  has  direct  approach  to  the  heart,  and 
prepares  the  way  for  the  sweet  message  of  the  Saviour's 
love.  A  woman  of  education,  culture,  and  wealth  was 
slowly  dying  of  cancer.  She  had  been  a  sceptic  and 
unbeliever  all  her  life,  —  believed  her  sickness  unjust, 
and  had  seldom  attended  church.  A  minister  was 
called  in  by  friends  of  the  family,  but  words  and 
prayers  seemed  of  no  avail.  Flowers  were  sent  by 
the  Christian  Endeavor  Society  of  the  church  with  a 
kindly  and  sympathetic  note.  The  fact  that  strangers 
took  such  a  personal  interest  melted  the  heart.  Doubt 
gave  way  to  faith,  and  she  died  trusting  in  redeeming 
love,  and  praising  God  for  the  unknown  friends  whose 
kindness  led  to  peace  and  salvation. 

There  is  another  way  of  working  with  and  for  the 
sick.     A  circle  of  deaconesses  is  now  an  established 
288 


HEALING. 

part  of  the  work  of  many  churches.  It  must  suffice 
here  to  outline  briefly  the  different  ways  in  which  the 
work  of  deaconesses  is  carried  on,  whether  by  the 
order  which  bears  that  name,  the  salaried  deaconess 
of  the  individual  church,  or  the  woman  who  in  a  pri- 
vate capacity  ministers  to  the  necessities  of  the  sick 
and  poor.  The  Order  of  Deaconesses,  which  was  first 
organized  under  the  auspices  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  but  which  claims  to  be  undenomina- 
tional, is  a  body  of  women  trained  as  nurses  and 
Christian  workers.  In  most  cases  they  live  in  a  com- 
mon home  called  a  Deaconess  House.  They  wear  a 
plain  uniform,  designed  as  a  protection  in  their  work 
which  may  take  them  to  the  worst  parts  of  the  city. 
They  receive  no  salary,  but  provision  is  made  for  their 
maintenance  in  sickness  or  old  age.  They  take  no 
vows,  and  may  leave  the  order  at  any  time. 

The  deaconess  or  pastor's  woman  assistant  and  the 
woman  who  voluntarily  goes  among  the  sick  and  needy 
perform  the  same  offices  as  those  mentioned  above. 
The  field  that  this  body  of  workers  occupies  is  so  great 
that  we  at  once  realize  how  inadequate  is  any  attempt 
to  enter  upon  a  detailed  description  of  it.  After  all, 
it  is  not  in  the  dispensary  nor  in  the  hospital,  but  in 
the  home,  however  humble  and  degraded,  that  the 
wounded  ones  of  earth  are  found.  They  do  not  seek 
you,  they  may  not  always  welcome  you,  but  they  are 
there,  and  the  duty  of  the  church  is  to  search  them  out. 
The  Lord  said,  "  I  was  sick  and  ye  visited  me."  ^ 

Aside  from  the  dread  of  the  hospital,  to  which  T 
have  referred,  it  is  impossible  in  many  cases  for  the 
patient  to  be  removed.  When  the  mother  falls  ill,  she 
can  still  direct  the  affairs  of  the  household  from  her 
bed  of  pain.  But  when  the  children  are  small,  cares 
1  Matthew  xxv.  36. 
289 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

are  many,  and  the  means  are  limited,  then  is  the  oppor- 
tune moment  for  some  Christian  hand.  The  Order  of 
Deaconesses  has,  as  a  part  of  its  equipment,  clean 
sheets,  pillow  cases,  and  towels,  plainly  marked  with 
the  name  of  the  Order,  to  be  returned,  washed,  and 
re-used.  The  mother  once  made  comfortable  with  a 
fresh,  clean  bed  and  the  proper  nourislunent  or  medicine, 
the  nurse  turns  her  attention  to  the  family.  The  little 
ones  are  washed  and  fed,  the  fire  is  replenished,  the 
room  swept,  and  preparation  made  for  the  supper  of 
the  father  when  he  shall  return  to  the  home  which  he 
perforce  left  a  scene  of  discomfort  in  the  morning. 

Besides  the  nursing  of  the  sick,  which  these  women 
regard  as  the  most  important  of  their  work,  opening 
as  it  does  so  many  avenues  to  the  heart,  and  affording 
in  many  cases  the  last  opportunity  to  speak  the  word 
in  season  to  those  who  are  "appointed  to  die,"  the 
deaconesses  have  other  lines  of  work.  In  some  cities 
there  are  children's  meetings  held  every  day  in  the 
week,  and  mothers'  meetings  held  at  the  house  of  one 
or  other  of  the  mothers  in  a  given  district.  Here  the 
mothers  gather  with  their  younger  children,  and  sew 
while  the  worker  gives  a  little  talk  on  some  subject  of 
practical  interest  which  is  followed  by  a  Bible  lesson. 
Sewing-societies  for  the  girls,  and  penny  saving-banks 
for  the  boys  are  also  provided.  In  some  of  the  Deacon- 
ess Houses  in  Germany  they  have  opened  schools  for 
servants  and  working-girls.  The  deaconesses  in  that 
country  are  also  to  be  found  working  in  day  nurseries, 
asylums,  hospitals,  and  orphanages ;  but  in  this  coun- 
try their  principal  office  is  that  of  nursing  the  sick  and 
passing  from  house  to  house  giving  the  gospel  of  min- 
istration, the  sympathetic  word,  the  help  to  find  work 
and  assistance  that  yet  does  not  pauperize.  Kindred 
to  this  latter  side  of  their  work  is  that  done  by  the 
290 


HEALING. 

King's  Daughters  and  Sons.  In  New  York  the  Board 
of  Health  sends  ten  or  twelve  physicians  into  the  tene- 
ment districts  to  relieve  the  sick  poor  during  July  and 
August.  They  are  trying  to  do  the  work  of  a  hundred 
men,  and  can  pay  but  one  visit  to  each  case.  The 
King's  Daughters  and  Sons  provide  these  doctors  with 
packages  of  postal  cards  on  which  the  Tenement  House 
Committee's  address  is  printed.  Using  these  cards, 
the  physicians  report  the  needy  cases,  briefly  designat- 
ing the  kind  of  help  needed.  The  nurses  of  the  Order 
are  at  once  sent,  and,  attending  to  the  pressing  needs, 
report  the  case  to  the  Charity  Organization  Society  for 
investigation. 

Diet  kitchens  have  their  place  in  the  ministration  to 
the  poor,  in  furnishing  the  sick  with  milk,  beef  tea,  jellies, 
fruit,  and  other  delicacies,  and  in  many  cases  with  ice. 

We  have  been  speaking  of  the  ministr}^  to  the  sick 
and  helpless  along  the  line  of  trained  workers  or  or- 
ganized effort,  but  let  not  any  feel  debarred  from  the 
privilege  of  sharing  in  this  blessed  work  of  the  Master. 
There  are  many  who,  unable  to  devote  themselves  ex- 
clusively to  this  service,  or  even  to  make  definite 
promises  for  a  given  portion  of  the  time,  yet  have 
their  place. 

It  is  well  for  the  pastor  to  arrange  with  physician 
attendants  of  his  church,  and  with  physicians  of  the 
community,  to  acquaint  him  with  any  case  where  the 
church  can  be  of  possible  service.  The  members  of 
the  church  at  large  should  be  encouraged  to  do  for  the 
sick.  There  are  great  swellings  of  human  kindness 
in  every  breast.  The  people  will  gladly  respond,  and 
the  service  will  bring  its  own  reward,  and  the  gracious 
benediction,  "  Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto  the 
least  of  these  my  brethren,  ye  have  done  it  unto  me."^ 
1  Matthew  xxv.  40. 
291 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 


CHAPTEE  XXXVI. 

RELIEF    WORK. 

To  pity  distress  is  but  human ;  to  relieve  it  is  godlike. 

Horace  Mann. 

There  is  no  work  more  binding  on  the  Church  than 
that  of  bringing  relief  to  sufferers,  — giving  meat  to  the 
hungry,  drink  to  the  thirsty,  caring  for  the  stranger, 
clothing  the  naked,  visiting  the  sick  and  those  in  prison ; 
but  we  must  also  remember,  as  Paul  commanded  the 
Thessalonians,  "that  if  any  would  not  work,  neither 
should  he  eat."  ^  In  other  words,  we  must  discriminate 
between  the  needy  and  the  impostor.  To  assist  the 
latter  is  as  great  a  sin  as  not  to  assist  the  former; 
and  to  aid  the  truly  deserving  without  humiliating  or 
pauperizing,  requires  great  wisdom  and  care.  Pro- 
fessor Richard  T.  Ely  sums  up  the  matter  in  the  fol- 
lowing admirable  manner:  "The  test  of  all  true  help 
is  this :  Does  it  help  people  to  help  themselves  ? 
Does  it  put  them  on  their  feet?  With  respect  to 
education,  the  answer  is  in  the  affirmative;  with  re- 
spect to  gifts  of  food  and  clothing,  it  is  the  exception 
when  it  is  not  in  the  negative.  .  .  .  The  danger  in  gifts 
and  clothing  is  that  people  will  cease  to  try  to  exert 
themselves,  and  will  become  miserable  dependants  on 
the  bounty  of  others,  losing  their  self-respect  and  man- 
hood. .  .  .  All  help  should  include  effort  on  the  part 
of  those  aided.     The  sooner  charity  becomes  needless 

1  2  Thessalonians  iii.  10. 
292 


RELIEF  WORK. 

and  self-help  sufficient  in  each  case,  the  more  success- 
ful the  charity."^ 

1.  The  Church,  through  that  tender-heartedness 
which  is  one  of  her  chief  graces,  often  errs  in  the 
direction  of  almsgiving.  A  substitute  for  this  may  be 
found  in  establishing  some  sort  of  industry  for  giving 
applicants  a  chance  to  show  their  willingness  to  work 
and  opportunity  to  earn  sufficient  means  to  tide  them 
over  until  better  arrangements  can  be  made.  Such  a 
place  should  always  leave  open  hours  for  seeking  more 
remunerative  employment.  Grace  Episcopal  Church, 
New  York,  has  a  parish  laundry,  in  which  all  the  work 
is  done  by  hand.  They  charge  the  highest  regular 
rates  for  doing  the  work  and  pay  liberal  wages,  as  it 
is  no  part  of  the  plan  to  underbid  other  laundries  or  to 
underpay  labor.  They  employ  about  thirty  women, 
and  the  work  offered  them  has  far  exceeded  the  capa- 
city of  the  laundry.  Calvary  Episcopal  Chm-ch,  New 
York,  has  a  wood-yard.  This  gives  temporary  em- 
ployment to  men,  and  they  are  paid  in  tickets  at  a 
restaurant  which  is  also  maintained  by  this  church. 
St.  Bartholomew's  Episcopal  Church,  New  York,  has 
a  tailor-shop  where  temporary  work  is  given  to  deserv- 
ing women. 

2.  Another  worthy  form  of  relief  work  is  the  Em- 
ployment Bureau.  Many  churches  have  such  associa- 
tions ;  and  it  is  possible  for  every  church  in  itself 
to  be  an  employment  bureau,  whether  there  is  within 
it  an  organization  definitely  known  as  such  or  not. 
Why  should  not  the  business  men  and  housekeepers 
take  pleasure  in  employing,  whenever  possible,  those 
within  their  own  borders  who  need  and  desire  work? 
Some  one  person  in  the  church  may  be  designated 
with  whom  may  be  left  the  addresses  of  those  wanting 

1  Social  Aspects  of  Christianity,  pp.  105,  108. 
293 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

employment,  and  the  kind  of  work  they  are  prepared 
to  do;  and  those  engaging  help  should  deem  it  a 
part  of  their  brotherly  duty  to  keep  themselves  well 
informed  as  to  names  on  the  list.  This  is  often  as 
great  a  convenience  to  church-members  as  it  is  a  real 
benefit  to  the  unemployed. 

3.  A  third  form  of  relief  work  worthy  of  attention 
is  that  of  a  boarding-place  where  comfortable  accom- 
modations at  reasonable  prices  and  with  Christian  sur- 
roundings may  be  secured  by  persons  away  from  home. 
St.  Bartholomew's  Episcopal  Church,  New  York,  has 
a  lodging-house  for  men  under  the  management  of  the 
Brotherhood  of  St.  Andrew,  where  only  one  dollar  a 
week  is  charged,  and  men  are  permitted  to  remain  at 
this  rate  while  looking  for  employment.  The  Judson 
Memorial  Baptist  Church,  New  York,  maintains  a 
boarding-house  which  is  self-supporting.  The  rates 
charged,  while  reasonable,  not  only  cover  the  running 
expenses,  but  also  pay  a  surplus  into  the  revenues  of 
the  church.  The  Central  Christian  Church  of  Kansas 
City,  Kan.,  maintains  Goodwill  Home  for  "  shelter- 
ing, feeding,  and  saving  the  worthy  poor."  In  Los 
Angeles,  Cal.,  is  the  Flower  Festival  Boarding- 
House,  a  home  for  business  women  under  the  care  of 
a  board  of  Christian  women  of  that  city.  The  rates 
charged  vary  according  to  the  salary  received  by  the 
women.  At  times,  in  especially  unfortunate  circum- 
stances, a  woman  may  be  received  temporarily  without 
charge,  but  it  is  essentially  a  home  for  self-respecting 
women,  and  care  is  taken  that  there  shall  be  nothing 
of  the  charitable  institution  about  its  working.  The 
home  is  self-supporting. 

4.  There  are  various  methods  of  giving  material 
aid,  such  as  food,  clothing,  bedding,  and  fuel.  Ex- 
treme circumstances  may  demand  our  giving  them  out- 

294 


RELIEF  WORK. 

right.  But  usually  the  wise  and  only  harmless  way  Is 
to  encourage  the  people  to  provide  for  themselves. 
The  Bethany  Presbyterian  Church  of  Philadelphia  has 
established  a  coal  club,  into  the  treasury  of  which  the 
members  pay  a  certain  amount  weekly  during  the  year. 
The  coal  is  bought  at  wholesale,  and  the  members  have 
the  benefit  of  the  reduced  price  during  the  winter. 

Besides  these  well-known  causes  for  relief,  there  are 
other  and  extraordinary  cases,  such  as  the  need  for 
legal  or  medical  advice.  While  provision  is  made  for 
the  latter  in  free  dispensaries  and  hospitals,  but  few 
have  undertaken  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  former,  — 
to  right  the  wrongs  of  the  oppressed.  The  People's 
Mission  of  New  York  has  the  services  of  competent 
attorneys  engaged,  and  free  legal  advice  is  given,  and 
' '  numerous  cases  have  been  litigated  for  persons  un- 
able to  defend  their  just  rights."  ^  St.  George's  Epis- 
copal Church,  New  York,  also  has  a  legal  bureau,  and 
the  relief  work  of  the  church  is  represented  by  the 
following  bureaus :  the  Legal,  Medical,  Employment, 
Visitation,  and  Sanitation  bureaus;  "all  of  which," 
says  their  report,  "  is  done,  and  done  only,  in  the  name 
of  Jesus  Christ."  In  that  name,  indeed,  are  found  the 
incentive  and  reward  of  all  this  work. 

1  Second  Convention  of  Christian  Workers,  New  York,  1887: 
Report  of  Rev.  C.  C.  GofE. 


295 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 


CHAPTEE  XXXVII. 

BENEFICIARY     AND     LOAN     ASSOCIATIONS,     AND     THE 
PENNY    PROVIDENT    FUND. 

In  view  of  the  vicissitudes  of  life,  no  one  doubts  the 
importance  of  the  insurance  of  weekly  benefit  in  event 
of  sickness  or  accident,  and  of  funeral  fund  at  death, 
but  some  have  questioned  the  advisability  of  such  work 
being  conducted  by  the  church.  But  beneficiary  asso- 
ciations are  not  in  the  church  without  strong  reasons 
for  their  existence.  The  hundreds  of  insurance  com- 
panies, lodges,  and  associations,  with  their  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  members,  bespeak  the  desire  of  men  to 
provide  for  themselves  and  families  in  times  of  sickness 
and  death. 

1.  The  City  of  Brotherly  Love  was  the  first  to  sug- 
gest that  the  brotherhood  of  the  church  should  have  a 
beneficiary  association,  —  not  one  in  which  there  are 
large  salaried  officers,  expensive  offices,  and  not  an 
association  in  which  one  class  of  people  is  enriched  out 
of  the  losses  of  another,  but  an  association  where  regu- 
lar dues  are  paid,  sick  benefits  are  given,  and  at  death 
a  fixed  sum  is  paid  to  relatives  or  friends. 

The  members  of  the  Beneficiary  Association  pay  a 
Proposition  fee  of  one  dollar,  and  monthly  dues  of 
fifty  cents.  Members  of  the  society  who  are  not  more 
than  one  month  in  arrears  are  entitled,  when  sick  or 
unable  to  follow  their  usual  vocation,  to  five  dollars 
per  week  for  a  period  of  not  more  than  ten  weeks  in 
296 


BENEFICIARY   ASSOCIATIONS. 

any  one  year.  On  the  death  of  a  member  in  good 
standing,  a  funeral  benefit  of  seventy-five  dollars  is 
given  to  the  widow  or  legal  representative.  In  event 
that  the  funds  in  the  treasury  are  not  suflScient  to  pay 
the  death  claim  of  any  member,  the  President  makes  a 
pro  rata  assessment  upon  all  the  members  in  order  to 
make  up  the  deficiency.  The  society  as  an  organization 
is  dissolved  every  twelve  months,  when  the  funds  of 
the  society  are  equally  divided  among  its  members,  ac- 
cording to  their  payment  therein.  Officers  are  then 
elected,  and  the  Association  enters  upon  a  new  year 
with  a  fresh  set  of  books. 

In  speaking  of  the  working  of  the  Beneficiary  Asso- 
ciation of  Grace  Baptist  Church,  Philadelphia,  the 
pastor.  Rev.  Russell  H.  Conwell,  D.D.,  says:  "We 
have  found  it  to  work  excellently,  but  everything  de- 
pends upon  the  men  who  manage  it.  .  .  .  It  must  be 
carried  along  on  thorough  business  principles,  and  con- 
ducted with  the  same  care  you  would  an  insurance 
company,  having  an  honest  man  to  attend  to  it.  We 
find  the  Beneficiary  Society  will  relieve  our  church  of  a 
great  deal  of  its  charity  expenses.  The  members  will 
receive  as  a  matter  of  right  what  might  otherwise  be 
demanded  as  charity  only."^ 

Rev.  J.  Wilbur  Chapman,  D.D.,  pastor  of  Bethany 
Presbyterian  Church,  Philadelphia,  writes  :  "  We  have 
many  benevolent  orders,  the  dues  of  which  entitle  the 
members  to  a  benefit  in  case  of  sickness  and  a  good 
sum  in  case  of  death.  These  societies  have  been  very 
helpful  to  us,  and  we  commend  them  heartily." 

"  With  regard  to  the  Association  in  our  Hollond 
Memorial  Church,"  writes  the  Rev.  J.  R.  Miller,  D.D., 
of  Philadelphia,  "I  can  speak  only  in  the  strongest 

1  Report  of  the  Seventh  Convention  of  Christian  Workers, 
Boston,  1892,  p.  101. 

297 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCPI  WORK. 

terms  of  commendation.  Our  Association  is  only  in  its 
second  year,  but  already  the  help  that  has  been  given 
in  many  individual  cases  has  proved  a  great  blessing  to 
the  beneficiaries.  Among  people  like  those  who  com- 
pose our  church  there  is  great  benefit  in  this  banding 
together  for  mutual  aid." 

The  Rev.  Melville  K.  Bailey,  associate  minister  at 
Grace  Church,  New  York,  in  speaking  of  Grace  Chapel 
Men's  Club,  says:  "  This  is  a  fraternal  mutual  benefit 
society.  It  has  one  chapter  only,  that  connected  with 
Grace  Chapel.  Its  members  pay  an  initiation  fee  of  two 
dollars,  and  monthly  dues  of  thirty-five  cents.  In  case 
of  illness,  a  member  is  entitled  to  draw  three  dollars  a 
week  for  a  limited  time.  In  case  of  death,  one  dollar 
is  paid  to  the  family  by  each  surviving  member  of  the 
Club.  This  Club  has  two  especial  advantages :  1.  Every 
member  pays  a  reasonable  sum  for  its  benefits ;  2.  Its 
resources  are  not  restricted  to  receipts  from  dues,  but 
the  treasury  receives  voluntary  contributions,  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  spirit  of  Christian  charity  which  acts 
in  the  church.  The  Club  has  an  increasing  member- 
ship." 

In  addition  to  the  real  relief  given  by  these  beneficial 
associations,  there  is  a  further  good  in  that  they  school 
the  people  to  provide  for  themselves  rather  than  rely 
on  friends  and  charity  in  times  of  misfortune. 
The  associations  also  are  trustworthy,  and  save  the  un- 
suspecting though  well-intending  people  from  being 
imposed  on  by  unreliable  and  exorbitant  insurance 
companies. 

2.  Kindred  to  these  associations  for  the  purpose  of 
relieving  the  poor  in  times  of  special  demand  for  finan- 
cial help,  are  Loan  Associations.  While  the  patrons  of 
the  pawnshops  and  money  "  sharks"  are  many  of  them 
of  the  improvident  or  dissipated  classes,  there  are  in 
298 


LOAN   ASSOCIATIONS. 

every  town  a  class  who,  solely  through  stress  of 
circumstances,  are  brought  into  financial  straits.  To 
them  sickness,  lack  of  work,  or  failure  of  resources 
leaves  no  resort  but  the  pawn-shop,  where  the  exorbi- 
tant usury  of  thirty-six  per  cent  renders  the  redemption 
of  the  pledge  almost  impossible.  And  there  is  always 
forfeiture  of  goods  in  event  that  payment  of  principal 
and  interest  are  not  prompt.  In  some  cases  the  bor- 
rowers of  money  have  been  compelled  to  pay  from 
sixty  to  a  hundred  per  cent  on  mone}^.  To  these,  the 
worthy  poor,  loan  associations  offer  a  much-needed 
relief. 

In  St.  Bartholomew's  Church,  New  York,  there  is  a 
Loan  Association.  The  Rev.  David  H.  Greer,  D.D., 
rector  of  the  parish,  says  that  during  the  past  two 
years  they  have  loaned  over  a  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars, about  seventy  thousand  of  which  has  come  due 
and  been  paid.  The  remaining  thirty  thousand  is  out- 
standing, and  is  being  paid  as  fast  as  it  falls  due.  This 
Association  is  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the  State 
of  New  York,  and  has  a  capital  of  fifty  thousand  dollars. 
The  Association  charges  but  twelve  per  cent,  which  just 
about  covers  expenses,  and  does  not  press  the  payment  of 
loans,  but  deals  with  its  clients  with  Christian  leniency. 
The  results  have  shown  that  the  loss  to  the  Association 
is  very  small,  while  the  benefits  that  have  accrued  to 
the  clients,  in  renewed  courage,  improved  conditions, 
and  relief  from  distress,  cannot  be  calculated. 

The  Provident  Loan  Society  of  New  York  ^  is  an  or- 
ganization opened  in  that  city  in  May,  1894,  for  the 
purpose  of  loaning  money  upon  the  pledge  of  personal 
property.  It  arose  from  the  financial  stress  of  the 
times.  It  is  incorporated,  and  has  as  trustees  some  of 
the  most  substantial  men  of  the  city.  Already  it  has 
1  Address,  281  Fourth  Avenue,  New  York. 
299 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

given  evidence  of  the  wisdom  of  its  inception.  It 
carries  on  its  business  very  much  after  the  manner  of 
the  Society  in  St.  Bartholomew's  Church.  Although 
few  churches  can  alone  carry  on  so  large  an  undertak- 
ing, there  is  encouragement  to  Christian  people  to  en- 
list the  interest  of  the  substantial  men  of  their  commu- 
nity in  a  union  enterprise  of  this  kind. 

But  there  is  another  side  to  this  subject.  In  many 
of  the  cases  where  the  time  of  distress  seems  unavoid- 
able, it  is  not  really  so.  In  days  when  all  goes  well 
and  the  wages  of  the  bread-winner  come  regularly  in, 
there  is  a  tendency  to  spend  every  spare  penny  in 
luxuries  and  amusements.  Oftentimes  it  is  a  feast 
one  day  and  a  fast  for  several  days.  These  people 
know  little  about  planning  and  nothing  about  saving. 
Their  training.  Dr.  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes  would  have 
said,  should  have  commenced  a  hundred  years  before 
they  were  born.  They  have  no  encouragement  to 
save.  Their  savings  would  be  so  small  that  no  bank  — 
not  even  a  savings-bank  —  would  receive  them.  The 
chance  therefore  to  lay  up  for  a  rainy  day  is  allowed  to 
pass  and  the  rainy  day  finds  them  unprotected.  Our 
larger  hope  in  this  matter  is  in  the  training  of  children, 

3.  It  is  to  educate  the  children  in  the  principles  of 
thrift  and  saving  that  the  Penny  Provident  Fund  was 
instituted.  Incidentally,  also,  it  teaches  the  parents 
the  same  lesson,  through  the  unconscious  influence  of 
childhood ;  and  many  avail  themselves  of  the  privileges 
of  the  Fund,  which  is  a  simplified  system  for  receiving 
and  depositing  for  safe-keeping  any  amount  from  one 
cent  upward. 

The  Penny  Provident  Fund  was  organized  by  the 

Charities  Association  of  New  York  City  in  1888,     It 

found  place  for  itself  in  the  want  of   savings-banks 

which  would  invite  deposits  of  small  sums  of  less  than 

3Q0 


THE  PENNY  PROVIDENT  FUND. 

one  dollar.  The  Fund  is  for  all,  old  and  young,  but 
the  largest  number  of  depositors,  probably,  is  among 
children  from  eight  to  sixteen  years  of  age.  There 
is  now  a  large  number  of  depositors,  representing  a 
deposit  of  many  thousands  of  dollars,  and  it  is  be- 
lieved that  little  of  this  money  would  have  been  saved 
but  for  the  encouragement  given  by  this  society.  The 
practical  working  of  the  system  is  very  simple.  De- 
posits from  one  penny  upward  are  received,  and 
receipted  for  by  stamps  affixed  to  little  squares  on  a 
card  arranged  for  this  purpose.  By  preseutiug  the 
card  for  cancellation,  deposits  may  be  withdrawn  at 
any  time,  provided  that  no  sum  less  than  the  whole 
amount  deposited  be  withdrawn.  No  interest  is  paid 
to  depositors.  When  the  sum  of  five  dollars  has  been 
saved,  the  depositor  is  advised  and  assisted  to  transfer 
the  account  to  a  savings-bank  where  interest  can  be 
earned.  The  American  Bank  Note  Company  makes 
the  stamps  in  bright  colors  in  denominations  of  one, 
three,  five,  twenty-five,  and  fifty  cents,  and  one  dollar. 
These  stamps  may  be  obtained  on  application  to  Miss 
Marian  Messemer,  Secretary,  at  the  Central  Office, 
Fourth  Avenue  and  22d  Street,  New  York.  There  is 
no  charge  for  material,  —  stamp  cards,  signature  cards, 
envelopes  for  pass-books  etc.,  —  except  the  cost  of 
transmitting.  The  stamps  may  be  obtained  to  any 
amount  desired.  A  station  should  invest  in  as  many 
stamps  as  can  wisely  be  kept  on  hand  for  the  business 
of  the  stamp  station.  These  stamps  can  always  be 
redeemed  at  the  Central  Office,  whether  used  or  not ; 
so  no  money  can  be  lost.  To  illustrate :  the  stamp- 
station  pays,  say,  $10  for  that  amount  of  stamps  in 
seven  different  denominations;  it  receives,  say,  S5  a 
week  in  deposits  by  the  sale  of  these  stamps.  It  uses 
the  amount  so  received  to  replace  the  stamps  sold,  so 
301 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

that  it  can  continue  to  do  business  indefinitely  on  the 
$10  originally  paid  in,  and  can  always  obtain  that 
money  back  by  a  return  of  the  stamps  or  the  cancelled 
stamps.  The  amount  of  money,  new  stamps,  and 
cancelled  stamps  at  a  station  always  must  equal  the 
amount  of  capital  at  the  Central  Office,  so  that  there 
is  no  opportunity  for  dishonesty.  There  is  no  book- 
keeping, as  every  deposit  and  withdrawal  is  evidenced 
by  a  stamp.  No  one  need  to  hesitate  to  open  a  sta- 
tion of  the  Penny  Provident  Fund,  as,  if  found 
impracticable,  it  may  be  discontinued  and  money 
refunded. 

Interest  in  this  saving-system  is  rapidly  increasing 
in  churches,  schools,  childi-en's  societies,  boys'  clubs, 
and  other  associations.  In  some  instances  stations 
have  been  successfully  opened  in  stores.  "In  all 
communities  the  larger  part  of  the  want  and  suffering 
is  the  direct  result  of  a  waste  of  small  sums  in  un- 
necessary expenditures  and  the  failure  to  provide,  by 
laying  up  such  sums,  against  possible  loss  of  work  or 
against  an  illness.  This  primary  banking-business  is 
educational  in  its  tendency  as  well  as  remedial."  ^ 
There  is  every  reason  why  interest  in  the  Fund  should 
increase.  It  is  a  meritorious  institution,  and  deserves 
support,  as  do  all  measures  which  encourage  providence 
and  thrift. 

*  Leaflet  of  the  Penny  Provident  Fund  Society. 


802 


THE  PLUKAL  PASTORATE. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

THE    PLURAL     PASTORATE. 

The  idea  of  the  plural  pastorate  carries  us  back  to  the 
time  when  Jesus  sent  out  the  Seventy,  "  two  by  two,'* 
and  when  "  the  Holy  Ghost  said.  Separate  me  Barna- 
bas and  Saul,  for  the  work  whereunto  I  have  called 
them."  ^ 

The  mediaeval  idea,  which  has  even  yet  a  paralyzing 
effect  upon  the  Church,  that  the  minister's  work  is  only 
to  preach  on  the  Sabbath,  conduct  a  midweek  service, 
marry  the  betrothed,  and  bury  the  dead,  is  giving  way 
to  the  true  and  larger  conception  of  ministering  to  the 
whole  man,  and  working  for  the  redemption  of  the 
whole  world.  Churches  which  have  accepted  this 
larger  mission  have  for  the  most  part  yielded  to  the 
necessity  of  two  and  more  pastors.  It  is  sheer  folly 
for  one  man  to  attempt  to  faithfully  minister  to  a  con- 
gregation of  four  or  five  hundred  people,  and  direct 
them  in  efforts  to  disciple  others  and  to  bring  the 
world  under  the  dominion  of  Christ;  and  nothing 
short  of  this  is  required  of  the  true  minister  of  Jesus 
Christ.  Granting  then  the  necessity  of  the  plural 
pastorate,  what  should  be  the  relationship  between 
these  fellow  laborers? 

New  York  City  has  recently  witnessed  an  illustrious 
failure  of  the  co-pastorate.  Some  other  cities  have 
had  like  unfortunate  experiences.     Reasons  are  patent 

1  Acts  xiii.  2. 

303 


MODERN  METHODS  IN   CHURCH  WORK. 

enough  why  a  co-pastorate  is  not  likely  to  be  the  hap- 
piest possible  arrangement. 

Churches  with  successful  plural  pastorates  have  a 
recognized  head  and  leader.  In  a  few  towns  the  sec- 
ond pastor  is  known  as  the  Assistant.  But  generally 
the  second  minister  is  known  as  Associate  Pastor,  —  a 
better  term  than  "Assistant,"  which  is  more  sugges- 
tive of  a  clerk  than  of  a  minister. 

Some  churches,  like  the  Bethany  Presbyterian 
Chui'ch  of  Philadelphia  and  others,  make  it  a  principle 
to  have  an  older  man  as  the  associate  pastor,  —  a  man 
who  because  of  his  years  prefers  not  to  preach  reg- 
ularly, and  who  by  reason  of  his  experience  and  age 
at  once  commands  the  confiding  trust  of  the  people, 
and  is  otherwise  qualified  for  the  varied  demands  of  a 
large  parish. 

The  plan  of  St.  George's  Episcopal  Church,  New 
York,  is  to  have  only  young  men  assistants.  They 
are  received  from  the  seminary  at  graduation,  and  re- 
main in  the  work  two  or  three  years  or  until  receiving 
a  call  elsewhere.  Grace  Church,  New  York,  has  dor- 
mitory accommodations  in  Clergy  House  for  six  or 
more  young  men,  who  are  received  on  seminary 
graduation  and  given  two  years'  practical  experience 
in  the  large  work  of  Clergy  House.  Such  practical 
experience,  combined  with  thorough  collegiate  and 
theological  training,  is  a  grand  preparation  for  the 
personal  responsibility  of  a  parish.  Most  churches 
having  the  plural  pastorate  have  a  younger  man  for 
the  associate  pastor.  With  difference  of  age  added  to 
difference  of  rank,  there  are  recognized  conditions 
which  preclude  such  unpleasant  comparisons  as  are 
bound  to  be  in  a  co-pastorate.  The  young  man  too  is 
peculiarly  adapted  for  work  with  young  people.  They 
are  naturally  drawn  to  one  of  their  own  age.  Again, 
304 


THE  PLURAL   PASTORATE. 

the  age  and  experience  of  the  pastor  forces  the  young 
man  to  remember  that  he  is  only  the  associate  or 
assistant  pastor.  As  such,  he  should  show  in  every 
way  possible  his  respect  and  regard  for  his  senior.  It 
is  a  sad  commentary  on  the  plural  pastorate  that  a 
prominent  church  in  one  of  the  Eastern  cities  was  well- 
nigh  disorganized  because  of  personal  differences  be- 
tween the  pastor  and  his  associate.  Let  the  associate 
pastor  never  listen  to  any  word  of  depreciation  of  the 
pastor,  but  rather  magnify  him  and  his  office  in  every 
way  possible.  A  compliment  given  at  cost  to  another 
may  well  be  regarded  with  all  suspicion!  On  the 
other  hand,  the  pastor  will  do  well  to  magnify  the 
office  of  his  assistant,  and  so  add  to  his  influence 
and  usefulness  in  the  church  which  he  serves. 

One  difficulty  that  has  been  experienced  with  asso- 
ciate pastorates  is  the  shortness  of  their  duration. 
When  acquainted  with  the  people  and  in  a  relation  of 
highest  usefulness,  the  associate  is  often  called  to 
other  fields.  This  doubtless  will  largely  continue.  It 
is  only  a  question  of  time  till  most  young  men  will  be 
controlled  by  a  desire  for  churches  of  their  own.  Yet 
many  assistants  would  probably  remain  longer,  with 
advantage  to  the  church  and  themselves,  if  given  op- 
portunity for  that  thought  and  systematic  sermonizing 
on  which  their  future  usefulness  in  so  large  measure 
depends.  Provision  must  be  made  for  that,  one  way 
or  another,  or  pastors  will  continue  to  suffer  periodic 
changes.  It  is  trying  and  difficult  for  the  young  man 
to  preach,  in  the  pulpit  of  another,  and  that  too  his 
elder  and  superior ;  but  preaching  is  vital  to  the  young 
minister's  future.  Occasional  preaching  will  also  give 
the  assistant  larger  influence  in  the  parish,  better 
equip  him  for  present  work  as  well  as  future,  and  in 
every  way  enhance  his  usefulness  as  a  minister  of 
20  305 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

Jesus  Christ.  The  assistant  should  be  encouraged  by 
the  pastor  to  study.  Rev.  Dr.  Huntington  of  Grace 
Church,  New  York,  meets  with  his  assistant  clergy 
two  evenings  each  month,  when  a  paper  is  read  by 
one  of  the  ministers,  and  all  take  part  in  the  general 
discussion. 

In  addition  to  having  an  assistant  minister,  some 
churches  also  have  a  lay  assistant  who  has  charge  of 
benevolences.  It  is  well  that  such  departments  be  in 
charge  of  laymen,  —  though  only  officers  or  members 
of  the  church. 

Many  churches  have  a  woman  assistant  who  attends 
to  parish  matters  in  which  the  services  of  a  woman 
are  clearly  demanded.  She  also  works  in  the  mission, 
if  there  is  one  under  the  charge  of  the  church,  and 
gathers  children  into  the  Sunday-school.  In  some 
cases  she  acts  as  the  pastor's  secretary,  and  is  generally 
useful  in  looking  up  and  calling  on  strangers. 

Thus  we  see  the  Church  is  coming  to  avail  herself 
of  the  strength  which  is  found  in  numbers,  and  of  the 
diversity  which  arises  from  differing  age  and  sex. 
Freed  from  the  dominion  of  priestcraft,  the  Church 
should  surround  those  who  are  over  her  in  the  Lord 
with  the  warm  atmosphere  of  appreciation  and  the 
buoying  certainty  of  constant  prayer.  It  is  not  for 
their  own  but  their  works'  sake,  that  the  Church  is 
bidden  to  "very  highly  esteem  them  in  love."^ 

1  1  Thessalonians  v.  13. 


306 


FREE-PEW  AND  PEW-RENTAL  SYSTEMS. 


CHAPTEE   XXXIX. 

THE  FREE-PEW   AND   VOLUNTARY-OFFERING   SYSTEM. 

What  is  to  be  said  of  the  relative  advantages  of  the 
free-pew  and  the  pew-rental  systems?  AYhile  it  is 
true  that  a  consideration  of  such  a  subject  should  be 
approached  from  the  highest  standpoint,  that  the 
question  of  expediency  should  be  eliminated,  it  is  also 
true  that  church  obligations  are  hard  facts,  and  we 
must  consider  the  subject  in  a  practical  way. 

I,  for  one,  do  not  feel  that  the  pew-rental  system  has 
come  about  without  some  claims  for  its  existence,  and 
we  can  but  recognize  that  it  is  the  system  in  use  in 
some  of  our  strongest  and  most  aggressive  churches. 
As  to  the  advantages  of  this  system,  it  is  claimed  to 
be  business-like,  enabling  the  officers  of  the  church  to 
determine  the  income  of  the  year,  and  not  only  to 
determine  but  also  to  guarantee  that  income.  This 
system,  it  is  also  said,  makes  it  possible  for  families 
to  occupy  the  same  pew,  and  thereby  deepens  the  home 
idea  of  the  church.  On  the  other  hand,  the  free-pew 
system  has  been  called  the  unattainable  ideal  of  the 
dreamer. 

We  shall  be  helped  in  our  study  by  keeping  in  mind 
two  things :  First,  by  keeping  before  us  just  what 
the  free-pew  plan  is.  In  the  free-pew  system,  as 
commonly  operative,  the  people  are  free  to  sit  any- 
where in  the  church  building,  or  are  assigned  to  pews 
in  order  of  application,  thus  avoiding  even  the  appear- 
307 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

ance  of  social  distinction ;  and  the  people  are  further 
free  to  give  to  the  support  of  the  church  and  to  the 
cause  of  Christ  as  in  the  sight  of  God  they  believe  it 
to  be  their  privilege  and  duty,  instead  of  giving  on  a 
quid  pro  quo  or  commercial  basis. 

The  second  thing  to  be  remembered  in  this  discus- 
sion is  that  the  pew-rental  system  is  not  the  sup- 
planted system,  but  the  supplanter.  It  is  not  until 
the  middle  of  the  fifteenth  century  that  mention  of 
pew-rents  is  made.  Before  that  time  the  entire  floor 
of  the  church  was  open  to  the  kneeling  or  standing 
worshipper.  But  as  the  founders  of  churches  reserved 
parts  of  them  for  the  use  of  their  families,  soon  there 
was  the  spectacle  of  private  rooms  with  windows, 
screens,  fireplaces  and  fires,  where,  as  has  been  said, 
"  the  godly  elite  could  warm  their  distinguished  per- 
sons."  Thus  the  idea  of  choice  places  in  the  sanctuary 
allotted  for  a  money  consideration  spread  and  gave 
rise  to  the  rental  of  pews. 

Keeping  these  facts  in  mind,  let  us  ask  by  what 
reason  the  free-pew  plan  claims  place  over  the  pew- 
rental  system? 

1.  The  free-pew  system  claims  for  itself  aU  the 
advantages  without  any  of  the  disadvantages  of  the 
pew-rental  system.  The  former  system  also  claims 
to  be  business-like.  A  fixed  income  for  a  year  is 
secured  under  the  free  plan  by  the  voluntary  offerings 
pledged  at  the  beginning  of  the  year.  It  is  further 
claimed  that  this  income  is  quite  as  sure  as  the  income 
from  the  rental  of  pews ;  and  experience  seems  to 
bear  out  this  statement.  It  may  be  that  there  is  some 
little  loss  under  the  free-church  plan,  but  there  is  also 
loss  under  the  other  system.  I  believe  it  safe  to  say 
that  pew  churches  meet  with  just  as  heavy  losses,  if 
not  heavier,  than  churches  with  the  free-pew  system ; 
308 


FREE-PEW  AND  PEW-KENTAL   SYSTEMS. 

and  if  all  the  truth  were  known,  we  should  probably 
find  that  many  pew  churches  call  upon  their  faithful 
officers  yearly  to  make  up  deficiencies  due  to  the  fact 
that  the  pews  were  too  high  to  rent  or  that  the  sub- 
scribers failed  to  meet  their  obligations.  As  over 
against  this,  advocates  of  the  free-pew  plan  hold 
that  they  can  appeal  to  the  enlightened  consciences 
of  the  people,  that  they  can  trust  those  consciences, 
and  that  the  thought  of  the  voluntary  offering  and 
responsibility  for  the  work  prompts  the  people  to 
faithfulness,  and  inspires  them  to  give  as  largely  as 
they  are  able.  The  free-pew  plan,  it  is  also  claimed, 
meets  the  demand  that  families  occupy  the  same  sit- 
ting, —  provision  may  always  be  made  for  this. 

But  we  have  implied  that  the  pew-rental  system 
has  real  disadvantages.  What  are  they?  It  may  be 
said  that  the  commercial  spirit  thus  entailed  over- 
shadows the  thought  that  we  are  to  come  into  the 
sanctuary  and  there  make  our  "  free-will  offering  with 
a  holy  worship."  ^  Again,  the  pew-rental  system 
encourages  some  persons  to  give  less  than  they  should. 
Certain  prices  are  placed  upon  pews  by  the  trustees, 
say,  two  hundred  dollars  for  one  pew,  and  one  hundred 
dollars  for  an  adjoining  pew ;  one  man  worth  a  million 
dollars,  and  ten  times  as  much  as  his  adjoining  neigh- 
bor worth  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  pays  only 
twice  as  much  for  his  pew,  yet  he  pays  all  that  he  is 
asked,  and  by  no  manner  of  logic  can  we  expect  him 
to  give  more.  On  the  other  hand,  under  the  free-pew 
plan,  the  weekly  offering  is  emphasized  always  as  a 
part  of  worship,  and  appeal  is  made  to  the  people  to 
give  each  as  God  hath  prospered  him.  Thus  it  results 
oftentimes  that  a  few  carry  the  burden  of  the  expenses 
of  free  churches ;  but  in  the  light  of  these  conditions 
1  Psalm  ex.  3. 
309 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

this  is  seen  to  be  an  argument  for  the  free-pew  plan 
rather  than  against  it.  A  farther  disadvantage  of 
the  pew-rental  system  is  that  it  alienates  certain  classes 
from  the  house  of  God,  —  such  as  servants,  the  labor- 
ing-classes, and  transient  people  whose  business  car- 
ries them  from  place  to  place,  that  is,  railroad  men, 
conmiercial  travellers,  and  others.  In  speaking  of  the 
pew-system  excluding  servants  and  laborers.  Bishop 
Huntington  well  says  that  the  church  is  excluding 
those  "  whose  children  in  the  next  generation  will  be 
the  'lords  and  ladies  of  the  land.'"  Bishop  Hunting- 
ton further  adds:  '^  By  excluding  them  you  not  only 
exclude  from  the  Treasury  of  the  Lord  the  vast  sums 
which  might  be  gathered  in  rivulets  to  swell  the  stream 
of  Christian  benevolence,  but  you  exclude  the  richer 
and  costlier  offering  ct  their  children  and  their  chil- 
dren's children.  And  so  the  policy  in  the  long  run 
becomes  as  short-sighted  as  the  piety  is  pharisaical."^ 
Now,  as  to  the  alienation  of  working-men  from  the 
church,  I  firmly  believe  the  welcome  of  the  church  to 
the  laboring-man  has  been  real  and  large.  Neverthe- 
less it  has  not  been  so  regarded  by  him.  In  speaking 
of  the  Church  of  England  Canon  Farrar  says:  "  Not 
three  per  cent  of  the  working-classes,  who  represent 
the  great  mass  of  the  people,  are  regular  or  even  oc- 
casional communicants."^  It  has  been  estimated  that 
the  condition  of  affairs  is  not  much  better  in  this 
country.  While  it  is  true  that  the  poor  man  may 
unjustly  arraign  the  church,  it  is  also  true  that  there 
needs  to  be  sounded  abroad  a  welcome  in  terms  that 
he  cannot  misunderstand.  And  this  cannot  be  done, 
I  believe,  save  we  offer  him  a  place  in  the  house  of 

^  A  Sermon  before  the  Massachusetts  Free  Church  Associa- 
tion, 1894. 

2  Quoted  by  Dr.  Strong,  The  New  Era,  p.  209. 
310 


FREE-PEW  AND  PEW-RENTAL   SYSTEMS. 

God  without  money  and  without  price,  and  where  he 
will  not  be  labelled,  by  his  sitting  under  the  gallery  of 
the  church  or  other  out-of-the-way  place,  as  a  poor 
man  or  person  with  moderate  income.  These  dis- 
advantages of  the  pew  system  are  too  patent  to  need 
comment;  they  are  never  denied  by  the  strongest  ad- 
vocates of  the  system,  nor  is  it  denied  that  the  free- 
pew  plan  eliminates  these  embarrassments.  But  there 
are  other  things  to  be  said  of  this  latter  system. 

2.  The  free-pew  plan  not  only  claims  the  ad- 
vantages without  the  disadvantages  of  pew-rentals, 
but  claims  certain  advantages  over  that  system.  I 
have  already  suggested  how  under  the  free-will-offer- 
ing plan  a  man  will  give  a  sum  more  in  proportion 
to  his  income  than  he  would  be  willing  to  pay  for  a 
pew,  and  that  with  the  free-pew  system  there  is  no 
unpleasant  discrimination  in  the  seating  of  people  or 
grading  them  according  to  their  gifts.  Furthermore, 
the  free-pew  idea  is  Scriptural.  "My  house,"  says 
the  inspired  Word,  "  shall  be  called  a  house  of  prayer 
for  all  people.*'^  The  crowning  glory  of  the  Saviour's 
mission  was,  "  to  the  poor  the  Gospel  is  preached,"  and 
"  the  common  people  heard  him  gladly,"  while  still 
down  the  ages  rings  the  command,  "  Go  preach  the 
Gospel  to  every  creature."  The  Apostles  caught  the 
echo  of  the  burning  words,  and  clearly  taught  the  in- 
fant Church  that  they  were  "one  in  Jesus  Christ." 
St.  James  was  very  definite  in  his  condemnation  of 
class  distinctions  in  the  sanctuary ;  and  his  Epistle,  as 
one  has  said,  is  very  uncomfortable  reading  for  the  ad- 
vocates of  rented  pews. 

The  whole  matter  may  be  summed  up  in  the  one 

thought  of  self-effacement.     We  must  learn  to  think  of 

the  church,  not  as  ours,  but  as  God's,  in  trust  for  us  to 

1  Isaiah  Ivi.  7. 

311 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

administer  for  the  benefit  of  his  needy  children.  We 
shall  then  desire  to  see  the  best  seats  given  to  those 
who  need  them  most.  What  we  need  is  emphasis 
placed  upon  the  brotherhood  of  man  in  Jesus  Christ, 
and  for  this  the  free  church  stands.  It  is  not  enough 
that  the  courtesy  or  charity  of  a  seat  be  given.  There 
is  a  stubborn  self-respect  that  resents  this.  The  rem- 
edy must  go  further  than  a  willingness  to  give  them  a 
part  of  what  we  pay  for;  we  must  keep  resolutely 
down  the  thought  that  we  pay  for  anything.  We  must 
simply  make  an  offering  to  God,  must  maintain  his 
worship  because  it  is  the  right  thing  to  do,  and  then,  as 
God's  institution,  let  the  church  take  its  place  in  the 
world,  his  gift  to  men. 

I  would  not  make  any  sweeping  denunciation  of 
those  who  yet  employ  the  pew-rental  system.  We 
are  the  heirs  of  many  mistakes,  and  this  making  the 
Father's  house  a  "  place  of  merchandise"  may  be  one 
of  them.  But  with  a  minister  consecrated  to  the  great 
work  of  saving  souls,  and  with  a  people  impelled  by  the 
C^hrist  spirit  of  love,  why  would  not  the  free-pew  plan 
be  wholly  practicable  in  any  church  and  in  any  com- 
munity? Certainly  it  is  in  keeping  with  the  thought 
and  feeling  of  this  age  and  the  larger  Christian  life  into 
which  we  believe  the  Church  and  the  peoples  of  the 
earth  are  moving. 

I  had  purposed  to  give  extracts  of  letters  received 
from  pastors  showing  the  success  financially  and  spirit- 
ually of  the  free-pew  system  in  their  churches,  but 
space  does  not  permit.  In  answer  to  the  question 
which  I  sent  to  pastors,  "What  have  been  your  en- 
couragements and  discouragements  spiritually  and  finan- 
cially?" I  received  many  letters  telling  of  large  gains 
spiritually,  of  congregations  that  had  doubled  and 
trebled  in  size,  and  of  contributions  that  had  doubled 
312 


FREE  PEWS  AND  VOLUNTARY  OFFERING. 

and  trebled  in  size;  others  spoke  of  smaller  results, 
but  nearly  all  were  positive  in  their  statements  of  real 
encouragements.  The  discouragements  mentioned  were 
such  as  might  be  incidental  to  the  pew  system,  —  as, 
want  of  spirituality,  lack  of  interest  on  the  part  of  the 
people,  apparent  estrangement  of  the  community  from 
the  church ;  only  one  pastor  expressed  the  belief  that 
more  money  could  be  raised  by  the  rental  of  pews  than 
by  the  voluntary-offering  system. 

It  is  interesting  to  state  in  this  connection  that 
about  ninety  per  cent  of  the  Episcopal  churches  have 
free  sittings ;  and  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is 
fast  crowding  this  noble  record.  There  is  a  growing 
tendency  on  the  part  of  all  denominations  to  return  to 
the  simple  plan  of  free  pews  and  voluntary  offerings. 
When  the  sittings  in  the  Church  of  England  a  few 
years  ago  were  made  free,  the  increased  attendance 
upon  the  Sabbath  services  was  at  once  apparent.  The 
records  of  St.  Margaret's  Church,  London,  under 
Canon  Farrar  show  that  with  the  abolition  of  pew-rents 
the  congregation  grew  until  it  overflowed  into  West- 
minster Abbey.  Many  more  illustrations  might  be 
given,  showing  how  the  free-church  plan  has  been 
blessed  with  great  increase  spiritually  and  financially. 
But  we  do  well  to  recall  the  words  of  Bishop  Hunting- 
ton :  "  We  do  not  expect  free  churches  to  be  proved 
to  be  right  because  they  are  successful,  but  that  by 
and  by  they  will  be  successful  because  they  are  right. 
God  will  bless  them  if  he  approves  them;  and  if  he 
blesses  them  they  will  succeed."  ^ 

While  it  is  true  that  the  renting  of  pews  is  a  departure 
from  the  methods  of  the  early  Church,  it  is  also  true 
that  this  method  of  securing  revenue  has  been  the  estab- 

1  A  Sermon  before  the  Massachusetts  Free  Church  Association, 
1894. 

313 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

lished  custom  of  the  Church  during  many  years.  It  thus 
becomes  necessary  that  the  church  which  would  discard 
the  pew  system  must  stand  ready  to  put  something  sat- 
isfactory in  its  place.  The  voluntary  offering,  when 
carried  out  in  a  wise  and  systematic  manner,  has  proved 
such  a  substitute.  Some  churches  have  abused  the  sys- 
tem by  making  it  a  sort  of  tariff  levied  by  the  church 
officers  as  appeared  in  theii'  judgment  just.  This, 
however,  is  not  the  common  or  the  Scriptural  practice. 
Mr.  Robert  C.  Ogden,  in  his  "  Pew-Rents  and  the  New 
Testament :  can  they  be  Reconciled  ? "  urges  that  the 
church  should  have  no  pledges  of  any  kind  for  the 
support  of  its  work.  It  may  be  that  Mr.  Ogden  is 
right,  but  he  largely  stands  alone  in  this  view  of  the 
matter.  Most  churches  having  the  voluntary-offering 
system,  ask  their  members  at  the  beginning  of  the 
financial  year  to  indicate  in  writing  (cards  having  been 
provided  for  this  purpose)  the  amount  that  they  desire 
to  contribute  weekly  to  the  support  of  the  work  of  the 
church  for  the  ensuing  year.  The  amount  of  such 
contribution  is  left  to  the  individual  conscience,  en- 
lightened by  a  clear  and  definite  statement  as  to  the 
needs  of  the  church.  The  amount  of  the  pledge  is 
known  only  to  one  officer,  and  may  be  revoked  at  any 
time.  A  package  of  envelopes  —  an  envelope  for  each 
week  in  the  year  —  is  sent  to  all  pledging  a  weekly  of- 
fering. This  plan  enables  the  church  officers  to  cal- 
culate approximately  the  income  of  the  year  from  the 
envelope  system.  This  is  a  large  gain  over  the  plan 
suggested  by  Mr.  Ogden ;  and  to  say  that  this  plan  is 
not  voluntary  seems  to  be  a  narrowing  of  the  meaning 
of  that  word.  When  the  aggregate  amount  pledged  is 
not  sufficient  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the  year,  a 
special  offering  is  sometimes  taken  to  cover  the  bal- 
ance needed,  and  is  usually  taken  on  Easter  Sabbath, 
314 


FREE  PEWS  AND  VOLUNTARY   OFFERING. 

when  it  is  called  an  Easter  Offering.  As  an  aid  to 
memory  in  the  use  of  the  envelopes,  the  Faith  Presby- 
terian Church,  New  York,  has  a  card  hanging  in  the 
vestibule.  This  card  contains  a  record  by  Sundays 
for  an  entire  year.  At  the  left  is  the  niunber  of  every 
pledge  envelope,  and  every  week  the  amount  contributed 
by  the  person  whom  this  number  represents  is  filled  in. 
No  names  appear,  but  the  pledger  by  a  glance  at  the 
card  is  enabled  to  tell  whether  or  not  he  is  in  arrears, 
and  the  amount.  Also  any  person  interested  may 
estimate  how  much  is  being  paid  in  weekly  to  the  treas- 
ury of  the  church.  The  pastor,  Rev.  James  S.  Hoad- 
ley,  D.D.,  has  found  this  plan  to  be  of  great  aid  in 
educating  the  congregation  to  regularity  in  their  offer- 
ings. Similar  plans  have  been  used  elsewhere,  and  are 
regarded  as  being  of  great  service.  There  are  churches 
too  which  provide  envelopes  bearing  the  date  for  the 
offerings,  for  the  Boards  and  benevolences  of  the 
church. 

Granting  that  the  free-pew  and  voluntary-offering 
system  is  the  better  system,  how  can  its  substitution 
for  the  pew-rental  system  be  brought  about?  The 
Rev.  Howard  A.  Bridgman,  D.D.,  in  his  crisp  and  per- 
suasive article,  "A  Plea  for  Free  Pews,"  ^  makes  the 
following  admirable  suggestions  for  bringing  about 
such  a  change :  ' '  Begin  at  once  a  campaign  of  agi- 
tation and  education.  Scatter  suitable  literature. 
Bishop  Huntington's  sermon,  'God's  House  Open  to 
God's  Children ;  '  Dr.  Rainsford's  pamphlet,  '  Let  us 
Anchor  our  Churches  and  make  them  Free ;  '  and 
Robert  C.  Ogden's  little  book,  '  Pew-Rents  and  the 
New  Testament:  can  they  be  Reconciled?'  all  treat 
the  subject  in  a  judicial  and  admirable  spirit.  In  en- 
deavors to  secure  the  desired  result  the  '  don't's '  are 

1  Published  in  leaflet  form,  1  Somerset  Street,  Boston,  Mass. 
315 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

quite  as  important  as  the  'do's.'  Don't  be  impatient 
or  scold.  Don't  claim  everything  for  the  free  system, 
or  make  the  pew  system  responsible  for  all  the  failures 
of  the  Church  to  reach  the  masses.  It  is  n't.  More- 
over, it  is  not  a  specific  for  all  the  diseases  or  a  sol- 
vent for  all  the  problems  now  afflicting  the  Church. 
Don't  bring  things  to  a  head  prematurely.  Quiet, 
persistent,  patient  effort  is  what  tells."  ^ 

A  pastor  of  a  large  church  in  a  New  England  town 
of  some  ten  thousand  inhabitants  mailed  leaflets  and 
literature  on  the  free-pew  question  to  members  of  his 
parish  as  often  as  once  a  month  for  nearly  a  whole 
year.  An  influential  member  of  the  congregation 
strongly  opposed  anything  that  looked  like  a  change 
from  the  pew-rental  system,  but  yielded  to  the  quiet 
invitation  of  the  minister  to  investigate  the  matter, 
with  the  result  that  he  became  a  strong  advocate  of 
the  free-pew  plan,  although  not  a  Christian  man. 

One  thing  should  be  guarded  against:  leaving  the 
free-pew  system  to  take  care  of  itself.  It  demands 
thought  and  time,  sympathy  and  support,  as  does  every 
good  work.  The  plan  will  serve  no  better  than  any 
other,  unless  along  with  it  there  is  the  Christ  spirit  of 
welcome,  and  the  heart  warm  and  aglow  with  divine 
love.  Well  says  Dr.  Bridgman :  '^  Better  the  rental 
system  with  a  real  cordiality  pervading  the  church 
than  the  free-pew  system  where  no  hands  are  extended 
in  welcome  and  no  hearts  beat  in  sympathy  for  the 
stranger.  It  is  asking  too  much  of  even  the  best 
system  in  the  world  to  expect  it  to  flourish  in  an 
envii-onment  of  icebergs."^ 

1  A  Plea  for  Free  Pews,  pp.  16,  17.  *  Ibid.  p.  12. 


816 


CHURCH  PROGRAMMES. 


CHAPTER  XL. 

CHURCH  PROGRAMMES,  YEAR-BOOKS,  BULLETINS,  VES- 
TIBULE CARDS,  PAPERS,  LETTERS,  AND  ADVER- 
TISING. 

1.  The  Sunday  programme  in  use  in  so  many  of  our 
churches  is  of  service  in  many  ways.  The  pro- 
grammes of  larger  churches  are  usually  a  four-page 
leaflet,  the  first  being  in  the  nature  of  a  titlepage ;  the 
second  giving  the  programme  of  worship ;  the  third, 
notes  relative  to  church  matters ;  and  the  fourth  a  cal- 
endar of  the  services  of  the  Sabbath  and  the  meetings 
of  the  week.  In  looking  over  different  programmes,  I 
find  it  the  custom  of  some  churches  to  give  usually  one 
or  two  notes  relative  to  the  work  of  the  church  at 
large.  Sometimes  helpful  quotations  are  given  from 
writers  like  Charles  Kingsley,  Phillips  Brooks,  and 
others.  This  page  also  gives  opportunity  for  public 
recognition,  in  one  form  or  another,  of  services  to  the 
church  which  may  be  deserving  of  mention.  Notes 
relative  to  the  meetings  and  work  of  various  societies 
magnify  their  importance,  and  show  that  their  work  is 
known  and  appreciated  by  the  pastor  and  the  church- 
members.  The  names  of  new  members  received  into 
the  church  and  into  the  several  societies  from  time  to 
time,  appear  on  this  page. 

On  this  page  of  notes  some  churches  give  the  record 
of  the  parish  work  for  the  month,  under   such  sub- 
jects as,  "Visits  Made  and  Received,"  "Strangers 
317 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

Greeted,"    "Number    of    Meetings,"    "Classes  Con- 
ducted," "  Baptisms,"  "  Marriages." 

There  is  opportunity  in  this  bulletin  also  for  the  pas- 
tor to  say  many  things  which  he  cannot  always  say 
from  the  pulpit ;  and  say  them  in  the  hope  of  having 
them  remembered  through  the  calendars  being  carried 
into  the  homes  represented  in  the  church,  and  having 
the  programmes  reach  members  who  from  one  cause 
or  another  are  necessarily  absent  from  the  church 
service.  Everything  that  can  be  said  in  favor  of 
church  papers  may  be  said  in  favor  of  church  pro- 
grammes. He  certainly  has  a  peculiar  church  who 
cannot  utilize  every  line  of  space  in  such  a  Sabbath 
calendar. 

The  fourth  page  of  this  Sunday  programme  usually 
contains  the  announcements  of  the  meetings  for  the 
week,  giving  the  day,  the  hour,  and  the  place.  In 
a  large  congregation  where  the  meetings  are  many, 
a  printed  list  becomes  absolutely  necessary,  and 
even  in  smaller  congregations  where  the  notices  are 
few  it  has  been  found  advantageous.  Some  village 
churches  instead  of  four-paged  programmes  use  only 
a  single  leaflet,  omitting  the  order  of  services  and 
indicating  only  the  meetings  of  the  week,  and  giv- 
ing notes  relative  to  various  departments  of  church 
work.  In  addition  to  the  convenience  to  the  people 
of  a  memorandum  of  the  meetings,  the  programme 
saves  the  time  and  distraction  of  making  announce- 
ments from  the  pulpit.  The  cost  of  such  a  slip  is 
very  little. 

In  addition  to  the  important  service  of  a  Sunday 
programme  in  keeping  the  weekly  meetings  before 
the  people  and  acquainting  them  with  the  work  of  the 
church,  the  calendar  makes  the  best  kind  of  an  invita- 
tion to  the  services  to  send  to  strangers  and  non- 
318 


CHURCH  PROGRAMMES. 

church-goers.  Many  pastors  send  these  calendars 
every  week  to  those  persons  whose  names  have  been 
obtained  through  the  pulpit  reception  and  by  other 
means.  Large  numbers  are  also  left  in  hotels  and 
public  places.  For  this  mailing-list  and  public  distri- 
bution the  Marble  Collegiate  Church  of  New  York  City 
has  a  special  programme,  with  the  announcement  leaf 
bearing  a  special  invitation  to  strangers  and  people 
who  are  without  a  church  home. 

A  simpler  way  of  giving  such  invitation  is  by 
pasting  the  following  slip  on  the  regular  Sabbath 
programme :  — 


d)e  JHaUtflion  ^bcnue  Ptcstpterian  C|)ttrcl) 

extends  a  cordial  invitation  to  transient  guests 
and  to  all  who  are  without  a  regular  church 
home  in  our  city,  to  attend  the  services  indi- 
cated in  this  Bulletin. 

Cl^e  ;Platiifi;on  Slbentie  Pregbpterian  Cl)ttrc]^ 

is  located  on  Madison  Avenue  and  Fifty-third 
Street,  and  may  be  conveniently  reached  by 
the  Madison  Avenue  cars. 

^Tf  pott  are  a  ^tratts:er 

we  ask  that  you  make  yourself  known  to  one 
of  the  ministers  or  to  one  of  the  ushers, 
thereby  enabling  them  to  give  you  a  special 
welcome.  Ushers  will  be  in  attendance  to 
show  you  to  a  sitting.     All  seats  are  free. 


The  above  is  a  slight  modification  of  one  used  by  the 
Westminster  Church,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.     When  the  slip 
is   printed,   one  end  is  gummed   for  the   purpose    of 
attaching  to  the  calendar. 
319 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

Many  churches  always  have  a  prominent  note  which 
expresses  the  welcome  of  the  church  to  strangers. 
The  following  appears  on  every  calendar  of  the  Marble 
Collegiate  Reformed  Church,  New  York :  — 

ITS  WELCOME. 

Welcome  is  the  shibboleth  that  will  win  the  people,  so 
long  as  there  is  a  vacant  seat  in  the  sanctuary  no  person 
shall  be  kept  waiting  in  the  vestibule.  Welcome  to  lofty 
and  lowly!  Welcome  to  old  and  young!  Welcome  to 
capital  and  labor !  Welcome  to  the  wise  and  the  unwise ! 
Welcome  to  all  to  a  place  in  our  Father's  house  I 

2.  Church  Year-Books.  In  comparing  a  large 
number  of  year-books  which  have  been  received,  there 
appears  a  suggestive  difference  in  them.  Several 
manuals  give  only  the  names  of  the  officers  and  com- 
mittees, the  several  societies  of  the  church  with  their 
officers,  and  the  church  roll  with  the  residence  of  the 
members.  Others  include  the  rules  of  the  officers  of 
the  church  and  their  duties,  the  Articles  of  Belief, 
and  lists  of  accessions  and  deaths  during  the  year. 
Some  contain  an  historical  sketch  of  the  church.  The 
majority  of  the  year-books,  however,  while  incorpo- 
rating some  or  all  of  the  above  facts,  have  a  yearly 
pastoral  letter  and  reports  from  the  secretaries  of  the 
several  societies,  stating  briefly  the  object  of  the 
society,  the  work  which  it  has  been  doing,  sometimes 
indicating  mistakes  that  have  been  made,  and  sug- 
gesting ways  for  improvement,  and  mentioning  oppor- 
tunities and  possibilities  which  may  awaken  more 
earnest  effort.  Such  a  year-book  is  of  great  value 
in  bringing  before  the  church-members  the  work  of 
the  several  societies,  and  showing  their  inter-relation 
as  an  organic  whole. 

32Q 


CHURCH  BULLETINS. 

It  is  an  innocent  mistake,  but  a  serious  one,  to 
assume  that  all  other  church-members  are  acquainted 
with  the  work  of  the  society  which  is  nearest  our  own 
heart.  Many  of  them  are  as  much  absorbed  with  the 
work  of  their  own  society  as  we  with  ours.  Much 
will  be  gained,  and  a  common  inspiration  given,  when 
we  learn  of  the  work  which  all  are  trying  to  do,  and 
realize  that  after  all  we  are  but  parts  of  one  harmonious 
whole. 

The  expense  of  the  year-book  may  be  met,  if  de- 
sired, by  filling  the  last  pages  of  the  book  with 
advertisements. 

3.  Church  Bulletins.  Bulletins  on  the  outside 
of  the  church  are  more  and  more  coming  into  use. 
These  have  permanent  letterings,  with  name  of  pastor, 
and  calendar  of  services  for  the  week.  Belcw  this,  a 
space  is  left  for  putting  in  a  lettered  card,  by  which 
the  pastor  announces  weekly  the  subjects  of  his  ser- 
mons. The  bulletin  also  gives  opportunity  for  special 
notices  during  the  week.  It  is  a  simple  arrangement, 
and  is  an  outer  indication  that  the  church  is  alive 
within.  In  the  case  of  a  church  that  is  open  daily 
for  prayer  and  meditation,  a  bulletin  announcing  this 
fact  may  be  placed  on  the  outside.  Many  churches 
are  so  arranged  that  it  is  necessary  to  call  attention 
to  the  fact  that  they  are  open ;  and  it  is  comforting 
and  inspiring  to  the  passer  to  read  this  invitation, 
whether  he  avails  himself  of  the  privilege  or  not. 

4.  Vestibule  and  motto  cards  are  also  becoming 
more  largely  used.  The  vestibule  cards,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  expressing  the  welcome  of  the  church  to 
strangers,  are  in  attractive  but  plain  lettering,  and 
are  hung  in  prominent  places  near  the  entrances. 
The  following  illustrates  the  general  character  of 
these  cards:  — 

21  321 


MODERN  METHODS   IN   CHURCH  WORK. 


"ALL  YE  ARE  BRETHREN." 

"THE  RICH  AND  THE  POOR  MEET  TOGETHER." 
THE  SEATS  IN  THIS  CHURCH  ARE  FREE. 
VOLUNTARY  OFFERINGS  SUPPORT  THE  WORK. 
YOU  ARE  WELCOME  TO  A  CHURCH  HOME  HERE. 


Other  churches  have  similar  messages  of  welcome 
lettered  on  the  wall ;  and  in  their  lecture  and  society 
rooms  have  a  large  number  of  pretty  cards  bearing 
Scripture  passages  hanging  about  the  rooms. 

The  motto  cards  are  as  helpful  in  awakening  senti- 
ments of  worship  as  the  vestibule  cards  are  of  service 
in  expressing  the  welcome  of  the  church. 

5.  Church  Papers.  The  church  paper,  published 
monthly,  is  another  means  of  increasing  the  interest 
in  the  parish,  and  of  extending  this  interest  to  larger 
spheres.  There  are  publishing-houses  which  provide 
papers  of  from  ten  to  fifteen  pages,  allotting  certain 
pages  to  a  church  for  its  church  news  and  such  adver- 
tisements as  it  may  secure.  The  reading  matter  pro- 
vided by  the  publishing  company  is  of  general  interest 
and  of  such  nature  as  might  be  expected  in  a  church 
paper.  The  publishing  company  largely  covers  its 
expenses  by  advertisements,  so  that  the  cost  to  a 
church  is  only  a  nominal  one,  which  can  easily  be  cov- 
ered by  a  few  local  advertisements.  This  provides 
for  free  distribution  of  the  church  paper,  which  brings 
the  work  of  the  church  before  the  members  and  the 
community,  and  places  helpful  literature  in  many 
homes. 

5.  Letter- Writing.  The  value  of  letter-writing,  in 
the  work  of  the  parish,  cannot  be  overestimated.  It 
was  Goethe  who  said,  ' '  If  you  would  know  how  others 
322 


ADVERTISING   THE   SERVICES. 

think  and  feel,  know  thyself."  One  thing  we  all  know 
is  our  appreciation  of  letters ;  Uncle  Sam's  messengers 
are  always  welcome,  and  too  are  subject  to  the  immedi- 
ate call  of  the  busy  pastor.  Letters  are  the  most  direct 
and  effective  means  of  all  advertising.  The  pastor 
who  does  not  thus  make  use  of  the  pen  is  letting  rust 
one  of  the  mightiest  instruments  that  God  has  given 
him.  A  warm,  kindly  letter  is  as  a  breath  of  the  soul, 
and  goes  directly  to  the  soul.  However,  the  busy 
pastor  cannot  write  many  letters ;  but  by  the  mimeo- 
graph he  can  write  a  letter  in  his  own  hand  to  every 
member  of  the  congregation,  and  too  in  almost  as 
short  a  time  as  it  takes  to  write  one  letter.  A  mimeo- 
graph which  will  last  for  years,  and  meet  the  largest 
needs,  costs  only  from  eight  to  twelve  dollars.  It  is 
invaluable,  and  can  be  used  for  all  sorts  of  writing 
where  a  number  of  copies  are  needed,  whether  ten 
copies  or  a  thousand,  — letters,  special  notices,  invita- 
tions, teachers'  reports,  etc.  I  speak  at  length  of  the 
use  of  the  mimeograph,  as  I  know  from  experience  how 
advantageously  it  may  be  used,  and  how  indispensable 
it  has  become  to  pastors  who  use  it. 

6.  Advertising  the  Services.  Another  important 
work  is  advertising  the  Sunday  services.  There  are  a 
good  many  ways  in  which  this  can  be  done.  Of 
course,  nothing  is  so  good  as  a  personal  invitation 
from  one  of  the  church-members.  Notices  of  meetings 
by  hand-bills  may  be  distributed  in  stores,  boarding- 
houses,  and  public  places.  Printed,  type-written, 
mimeographed,  or  —  best  of  all  —  personally  written 
letters  should  be  mailed  to  those  who  are  known  to  be 
without  a  church  home,  to  students,  and  to  transient 
guests  at  hotels.  News-agents  who  handle  large  num- 
bers of  daily  papers  can  be  hired  for  a  small  fee  to 
place  the  invitation  circular  in  all  the  papers  which 
323 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

they  sell  and  distribute.  Still  other  means  may  be 
employed,  such  as  notices  in  the  papers,  church  bulle- 
tins, hand-bills  on  the  street,  framed  announcements 
in  hotels  and  barber  shops.  Care  should  be  taken  to 
have  the  circulars  printed  so  that  they  will  attract  the 
eye.  This  advertising  should  be  continuous  and  per- 
sistent. "  The  secret  of  successful  advertising  for  the 
gospel's  sake  is  the  same  as  that  of  the  successful 
advertising  of  the  merchant :  '  Keeping  everlastingly 
at  it  brings  success.' "^ 

The  Rev.  William  H.  Fishburn,  D.D.,  pastor  of  the 
Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Columbus,  O.,  has 
large  evening  audiences  and  a  most  successful  plan  for 
advertising  his  services.  When  he  assumed  the  pas- 
torate, there  was  practically  no  evening  congregation, 
but  within  a  few  months  he  had  an  evening  audience 
of  from  one  thousand  to  thirteen  hundred  people.  Dr. 
Fishburn  commenced  advertising  by  issuing  large  num- 
bers of  invitation  cards  to  the  church  services,  printing 
some  weeks  as  many  as  fifteen  thousand  cards.  These 
were  done  up  in  packages  of  one  hundred,  seventy-five, 
fifty,  twenty-five,  and  ten,  held  together  by  rubber 
bands.  They  were  given  to  the  people  for  distribution 
after  a  sermon  on  church  work  delivered  at  the  morn- 
ing service.  Members  were  to  say,  as  they  passed  out 
of  the  church,  whether  they  wanted  one  hundred,  fifty, 
twenty-five,  or  ten,  and  received  what  they  asked  for. 
The  results  were  immediate.  When  the  pastor  delivers 
a  special  sermon  or  series  of  sermons,  cards  are  in  like 
manner  distributed  by  the  male  members  of  the 
church  to  the  people  sought  to  be  reached.  This  is 
accomplished  by  dividing  the  city  up  into  convenient 
districts.  The  plan  of  advertising  includes  also  get- 
ting the  evening  audience  themselves  interested  in  the 

1  The  Fishin'  Jimmy  Club,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Jolm  Clark  HiU,  p.  29. 
324 


ADVERTISING  THE  SERVICES. 

distribution  of  cards ;  appeal  is  made  to  them  to  take 
packages  of  invitation  cards  to  distribute  during  the 
•week.  This  at  once  gives  the  new-comers  something 
to  do,  and  stimulates  their  interest.  At  times  the 
cards  are  taken  to  stores  to  be  wrapped  with  parcels ; 
they  are  carried  through  the  markets  and  dropped  into 
baskets,  and  are  given  to  the  elevator  boys  at  the 
hotels.  The  printing  of  the  cards  is  in  plain  bold  type, 
the  main  object  being  to  convey  the  message. 

A  question  that  naturally  arises  with  many  churches 
which  would  like  to  undertake  such  advertising  is, 
"Can  we  afford  it?"  Another  question  might  well 
suggest  itself,  "Can  we  afford  not  to  do  it?"  The 
common  experience  is  that  the  increased  collections 
resulting  from  increased  attendance  upon  the  sendees 
of  the  church  covers  not  only  the  cost  of  printing  and 
incidental  expenses,  but  also  adds  considerably  to  the 
general  fund  of  the  church.  It  pays  ' '  manifold  more 
in  this  present  time,  and  in  the  world  to  come  life 
everlasting." 


325 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 


CHAPTER  XLL 

CHURCH  ARCHITECTURE. 

The  new  methods  of  church  work  are  having  a  marked 
effect  on  church  architecture.  Churches  built  in  years 
past  are  totally  unsuited  to  the  busy  life  of  the  modern 
house  of  God.  Many  of  them  have  neither  the  grace, 
beauty,  or  utility  of  the  ancient  temple,  nor  the  practi- 
cal and  aesthetic  value  that  modern  architecture  gives 
to  buildings  constructed  for  other  purposes.  Like  the 
Chinese  Wall,  these  churches  seem  to  have  been  built 
to  keep  the  people  out.  Nothing  more  discouraging 
can  be  imagined  than  the  attempt  to  carry  on  a  broad 
Christian  work  in  cramped  and  unattractive  quarters ! 

Let  us  see  what  kind  of  a  building  the  new  church 
requires  to  carry  on  her  work.  In  this  investigation 
we  cannot  do  better  than  to  take  as  an  example  the 
beautiful  new  Pilgrim  Congregational  Church  of  Cleve- 
land, O.  This  noble  edifice  contains  forty-three 
separate  apartments.  The  spacious  auditorium,  with 
its  gallery,  will  seat  thirteen  hundred.  All  of  the 
space  in  the  auditorium  is  utilized,  as  the  seating  is 
amphitheatrical  in  form,  the  aisles  radiating  from  the 
pulpit,  which  is  in  one  corner.  This  location  of  the 
speaker  makes  the  gallery,  which  occupies  the  two 
sides  converging  to  the  corner  opposite  the  pulpit, 
very  pleasant,  since  every  occupant  of  the  gallery  is 
brought  into  a  position  facing  the  speaker.  The 
organ  and  choir,  with  sittings  for  one  hundred,  occupy 
326 


CHURCH  ARCHITECTURE. 

an  addition  on  the  side  of  the  church  at  the  left  of  the 
pulpit.  The  fourth  side  of  the  church,  at  the  right  of 
the  pulpit,  opens  by  sliding  doors  into  the  Sunday- 
school  room,  by  the  use  of  which  the  auditorium  may 
be  made  to  accommodate  twenty-four  hundred  people. 
The  Sunday-school  is  provided  with  class-rooms,  both 
above  and  below  stairs,  including  in  all  twenty  rooms 
for  the  use  of  the  school.  All  the  doors  of  the  class- 
rooms may  be  opened  and  closed  by  steam  power, 
which  is  controlled  by  levers  from  the  superintendent's 
desk.  The  oflSces  of  the  pastor,  his  associate,  and 
assistant  occupy  the  remaining  rooms  on  this  floor. 
On  the  ground-floor  of  the  church,  beneath  the  audito- 
rium and  Sunday-school  rooms,  are  the  rooms  in 
which  the  educational  and  industrial  work  is  carried 
on.  The  gymnasium  is  found  here,  with  dressing- 
rooms  for  men  and  women.  Here,  too,  are  the  drill- 
rooms  for  the  Boys'  Brigade,  capacious  dining-room, 
kitchen  and  pantry,  ladies'  parlor,  reception-room,  and 
reading-rooms  for  the  various  societies  of  the  church. 

Other  churches  devote  the  church  proper  to  audi- 
torium, choir-rooms,  and  lecture-room  or  chantry,  hav- 
ing another  building  —  called  the  parish  house  —  in 
which  to  carry  on  the  institutional  work  of  the  church. 
This  is  the  case  with  Jersey  City  Tabernacle,  which 
has  the  People's  Palace  for  housing  every  activity  of 
the  churciB.  In  such  a  building  it  is  more  convenient 
to  have  swimming-baths  and  gymnasiums  than  in  the 
church  proper.  Many  ministers  who  are  in  full  sym- 
pathy with  industrial  and  educational  work  urge  the 
use  of  an  outside  building  for  that  purpose,  —  not  that 
the  church  building  would  be  desecrated  by  loving 
ministries  "in  His  name,"  but  for  reasons  of  economy. 
Other  ministers  urge  that  institutional  work  should  be 
conducted  only  in  the  parish  house,  that  the  church 
327 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

proper  may  be  associated  in  thought  with  the  one  idea 
of  worship.  It  is  evident  that  the  parish  house  would 
meet  the  need  of  those  churches  which  are  circum- 
scribed in  the  size  of  their  church  lot,  or  where  ad- 
ditions or  changes  of  the  church  edifice  would  be 
impracticable.  St.  Bartholomew's  Church,  New  York, 
has  a  well-equipped  parish  house,  containing  accom- 
modations for  the  Rescue  Mission,  the  clubs,  classes, 
and  clinics.  The  house  is  fully  in  use,  from  the 
restaurant  in  the  basement  to  the  roof  garden  on  the 
top.  This  roof  garden  is  a  unique  idea,  which  might 
well  be  copied  by  other  churches  in  the  cities.  It  is 
open  on  five  evenings  in  the  week.  Here,  on  the  hot 
summer  nights,  there  is  music,  and  an  opportunity  to 
breathe  a  better,  cooler  air  than  that  of  the  streets  or 
the  stifling  rooms  below.  To  prevent  overcrowding, 
the  roof  garden  is  open  to  certain  classes  on  certain 
nights,  and  on  the  evening  devoted  to  women  and 
babies  there  are  refreshments.  But  the  roof  garden  is 
adapted  to  other  purposes  than  amusement.  Why  not 
make  use  of  it  during  the  sultry  months  of  summer  for 
preaching  services  and  other  gospel  meetings  ? 

The  Fourth  Congregational  Church  of  Hartford, 
Conn.,  has  drawn  plans  for  a  new  church  edifice, 
which,  in  addition  to  a  spacious  auditorium,  lecture- 
room,  and  Sunday-school  rooms,  will  house  the  various 
departments  of  institutional  work.  The  plan  also  seems 
to  solve  the  problem  of  support  for  down- town  churches. 
The  building  is  to  be  six  stories  high,  and  the  three 
upper  floors  are  to  be  rented  for  offices  and  other 
purposes,  which  will  in  large  part  meet  annually  the 
church  expenses. 

Attention  to  minor  details  in  planning  a  church  does 
much  to  make  it  pleasant  and  homelike.  The  color  of 
the  carpet,  the  style  and  coloring  of  the  decorations, 
328 


CHURCH  ARCHITECTURE. 

attention  to  the  heating,  lighting,  and  ventilation,  — • 
even  to  the  quality  of  the  carpet  lining  that  softens 
the  footfall,  —  all  play  their  part  in  making  the  house 
of  God  a  restful  place  to  every  sense.  The  Lincoln 
Park  Baptist  Church  of  Cincinnati,  O.,  will  soon 
erect  a  church  having  some  new  features.  Among 
them  is  an  Old  Folks'  Gallery,  with  the  most  comforta- 
ble upholstered  seats  possible.  They  also  plan  having 
a  balcony  on  the  front  of  the  church,  where  a  band  may 
be  stationed  for  summer-evening  concerts  before  ser- 
vices. There  is  such  a  balcony  on  the  front  of  Grace 
Baptist  Church,  Philadelphia,  and  music  is  rendered 
there  at  midnight  before  New  Year's  and  Easter.  In 
the  Hollond  Memorial  Presbyterian  Church,  Philadel- 
phia, the  stairs  to  the  gallery  go  up  from  the  auditorium 
instead  of  from  the  vestibule,  the  idea  being  to  make 
the  occupants  of  the  gallery  feel  themselves  to  be  an 
integral  part  of  the  assembly. 

The  study  of  architecture  is  a  fascinating  one,  and 
churches  and  cathedrals  have  always  stood  among  the 
highest  types  of  the  builder's  art.  We  need  not  sacri- 
fice the  "frozen  music."  We  may  still  have  our 
groined  arches,  our  flying  buttresses,  and  our  graceful 
spires,  our  deep  pealing  organ,  and  our  stained-glass 
windows.  But  with  these  things  we  should  have  the 
beauty  of  the  practical  and  the  adaptation  of  structure 
to  the  varied  uses  of  the  church,  which  has  for  its  high 
ideal  ministering  to  the  whole  man  on  every  day  of 
every  week. 


329 


MODERN  METHODS  IN   CHURCH  WORK. 


CHAPTEK  XLIL 

MOBILIZING  THE   WORK. 

The  multiplication  of  societies  in  a  church  incident  to 
the  demands  of  different  kinds  of  work  may  appear  to 
break  the  church  as  an  organic  whole.  The  individual 
society  sometimes  magnifies  the  importance  of  its  own 
sphere  of  action  at  the  expense  of  other  church  work, 
thus  interfering  with  that  perfect  unity  of  feeling  and 
of  purpose  and  that  fellowship  of  believers  which 
should  characterize  the  body  of  Christ.  And  where 
there  is  want  of  unity  and  plan  in  the  various  organi- 
zations of  the  church,  forces  often  collide  or  misspend 
themselves,  and  the  result  is  discouragement  and 
sometimes  the  abandonment  of  worthy  endeavors.  To 
counteract  this  disintegrating  tendency,  and  to  fuse 
and  solidify  the  work  and  bring  the  several  parts  into 
such  articulate  and  sympathetic  relations  that  one 
spirit  and  purpose  shall  animate  all,  a  representative 
council  or  pastor's  cabinet  is  most  effective.  The 
meetings  are  usually  held  monthly.  This  council 
consists  of  all  the  church  officers  by  whatever  name 
they  may  be  known,  —  officers  of  the  Sunday-school 
and  the  heads  of  all  the  various  organizations  in  the 
church.  All  the  societies  in  the  church,  both  old  and 
young,  are  represented  in  the  cabinet ;  thus  it  is  easy  to 
prevent  overlapping  in  work,  each  society  is  stimulated 
by  hearing  of  the  work  of  the  other  societies,  young 
and  old  are  mutually  helped,  and  all  appreciate  the 
330 


MOBILIZING  THE  WORK. 

oneness  of  the  work.  Besides  the  feeling  of  unity 
among  the  church-workers  that  such  cabinet  meeting  en- 
genders, it  is  of  incalculable  assistance  to  the  pastor 
by  placing  him  in  touch  with  the  various  societies 
without  the  necessity  of  going  to  the  various  heads  for 
information.  At  the  cabinet  meetings  he  has  the 
opportunity  of  receiving  from  the  representatives  of 
each  society  and  committee  all  the  facts  as  to  the 
day-by-day  life  of  the  organization,  and  to  give,  in- 
dividually and  as  a  whole,  words  of  advice,  sympathy, 
and  appreciation.  He  in  return  experiences  the  en- 
couragement of  the  presence  and  discussions  of  head 
workers  gathered  around  him,  and  comes  into  pos- 
session of  details  which  it  would  be  impossible  other- 
wise to  obtain,  and  receives  suggestions  which  could 
in  no  other  way  be  secured.  We  would  discount  that 
college  president  who  did  not  avail  himself  of  the 
helpful  discussions  of  his  college  faculty.  Can  the 
pastor  any  the  less  afford  to  let  pass  the  helpful 
suggestions  of  his  workers?  True,  he  has  the  church 
officers  as  advisers,  but  church  officers  do  not  by  any 
manner  of  means  know  all  the  practical  workings,  the 
encouragements  and  difficulties,  of  the  several  societies. 
Such  meetings  will  be  of  help  to  the  officers  as  well 
as  to  the  minister.  The  ideal  church  is  the  unified 
church,  in  which  the  pastor  is  as  one  who  sits  in  the 
midst  of  a  complicated  system  of  machiuery  all  work- 
ing in  perfect  harmony,  —  able  to  see  at  a  glance 
just  how  everything  is  going,  and  able  to  direct  and 
control  the  energy  of  every  part.  Such  a  church 
through  the  subordination  of  all  individual  preferences 
to  the  one  great  object  of  advancing  the  kingdom  of 
God  upon  earth,  must  indeed  be  a  great  power. 
There  is  one  practical  suggestion  in  this  connection 
that  ought  to  be  made:  the  pastor  should  be  an  eic 
331 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

officio  member  of  every  nominating  committee  of 
every  society.  Without  being  dictatorial,  he  can 
help  to  the  wisest  choice  of  officers,  as  no  one  so  well 
as  he  knows  the  influence  and  qualifications  of  members 
for  such  important  trusts. 

Incidental  to  the  discussion  in  the  chapter  on 
"  Women's  Work"  are  other  suggestions  for  mobilizing 
church  work. 

There  is  yet  a  broader  way  of  looking  at  this 
question  of  mobilizing  the  work,  —  that  of  mobilizing 
not  merely  the  work  of  the  several  societies  of  a 
church,  but  the  work  of  the  several  churches  of  a 
community.  Union  effort  of  churches  in  certain  di- 
rections in  no  way  limits  or  interferes  with  the  regu- 
lar work  of  the  individual  church;  rather  it  enlarges 
its  work  and  increases  its  opportunities  for  doing 
good.  The  broader  conception  of  the  mission  of  the 
Church,  that  her  duty  is  to  work  for  the  salvation  of 
society  as  well  as  the  individual,  at  once  brings  the 
churches  into  sympathetic  relation  and  into  appre- 
ciation of  the  need  of  co-operation.  Only  in  union 
effort  can  the  churches  be  thorough  in  their  work  in 
the  community,  or  hope  to  effect  a  social  redemption. 
The  demands  are  so  great  that  if  the  churches  stand 
alone  the  work  will  remain  undone.  There  is  need 
of  the  power  of  concerted  action  that  comes  through 
organization.  There  may  be  other  societies  in  the 
town  which  aim  to  raise  the  tone  of  citizenship,  work 
for  civic  improvements,  promote  the  interests  of 
labor,  arouse  the  public  conscience,  and  influence 
legislation  in  the  interests  of  temperance,  education, 
equity,  and  morals,  but  the  churches  have  a  duty  in 
this  matter  which  cannot  be  delegated  to  another. 
This  great  work  has  been  placed  on  the  children  of 
God,  and  we  should  bring  the  tremendous  influence 
332 


MOBILIZING  THE  WORK. 

of  the  churches  into  all  that  affects  the  interests  of 
society,  civic  interests  as  well  as  religious,  and  work 
together  for  the  public  weal. 

The  plan  suggested  for  church  co-operation  by 
the  Evangelical  Alliance  ^  is  a  very  simple  and  com- 
prehensive one;  namely,  a  Board  of  Managers  or 
Executive  Committee,  consisting  of  the  pastor  and 
two  members  from  each  church.  A  Standing  Com- 
mittee is  then  appointed  on  each  line  of  work 
which  the  Executive  Committee  decide  to  undertake, 
the  names  being  selected  from  the  lists  of  indi- 
vidual members  of  the  local  church  alliance.  Of 
course,  every  community  will  have  its  own  problems 
and  needs,  but  for  general  lines  of  work  the  Evangeli- 
cal Alliance  suggests,  among  others,  the  following: 
Committee  on  (1)  Social  Conditions;  (2)  Evangeli- 
zation; (3)  Relief;  (4)  Temperance;  (5)  Sunday 
Observance;  (6)  Law  and  Order;  (7)  Municipal 
Reform;  (8)  Civic  Improvements;  (9)  Labor; 
(10)    Education  and  Recreation. 

The  object  of  such  church  co-operation  is  not  to 
compete  with  other  societies  in  the  community  work- 
ing to  the  same  end,  but  is  to  co-operate  with  them. 
*'  Thus  the  Alliance  Standing  Committee  on  Temper- 
ance appoints  a  sub-committee  to  confer  with  what- 
ever temperance  organizations  there  may  be  in  the 
town,  and  ask  how  the  churches  can  best  co-operate 
with  them  to  serve  the  cause  of  temperance.  The 
Alliance  Standing  Committee  on  Labor  appoints  a 
sub-committee  to  confer  with  labor  organizations  and 
arrange  for  such  co-operation  as  will  best  enable  the 
churches  to  serve  the  interests  of  labor,  etc."  "^ 

1  Rev.  Josiah  Strong,  D,  D.,  General  Secretary,  United  Charir 
ties  Building,  Fourth  Avenue  and  22d  Street,  New  York. 

2  Evangelical  Alliance,  Leaflet  No.  6,  p.  7. 

333 


MODERN  METHODS  IN"  CHURCH  WORK. 

Since  the  Church  has  no  right  to  delegate  to  another 
this  work  for  society,  the  churches  should  not  hesi- 
tate to  form  an  alliance,  although  there  may  be  exist- 
ing organizations  in  the  town  for  similar  purposes. 
The  Church  Alliance  will  then  be  able,  usually,  not 
only  to  co-operate  in,  but  also  to  co-ordinate,  the  work 
of  the  several  societies. 

The  Evangelical  Alliance,  which  was  formed  in 
England  in  1844  and  in  the  United  States  in  1867, 
and  which  has  done  such  a  large  and  praiseworthy 
work,  is  always  ready  to  co-operate  in  the  organi- 
zation of  a  local  alliance  of  churches  by  sending 
helpful  literature,  and  in  other  ways  as  it  may  be 
able. 

I  do  not  believe  it  possible  to  over-emphasize  the 
urgent  need  of  church  co-operation.  Union  effort 
will  open  many  avenues  of  service  before  unknown, 
place  the  churches  in  possession  of  invaluable  facts 
for  their  work,  prevent  needless  overlapping,  and  the 
greater  crime  of  new  churches  being  built  when  not 
needed,  or  where  they  would  only  deplete  other 
churches  and  force  all  to  suffer  a  struggling  exist- 
ence. Greater  inspiration  would  come  to  all  the 
churches  because  of  this  larger  view  of  their  mission 
in  their  co-operation  for  the  great  end  of  social  regen- 
eration. And  we  must  work  for  the  regeneration  of 
society.  The  sooner  we  give  ourselves  to  the  task, 
the  sooner  will  God's  Kingdom  come.  It  would  be 
praiseworthy  to  save  what  people  we  could  from  a 
sinking  ship,  but  it  were  better  to  save  both  ship 
and  people.  With  church  co-operation  denomina- 
tional differences  could  still  continue;  but  with  the 
churches  working  together  to  extend  the  Kingdom, 
with  eyes  fixed  alone  on  Jesus  Christ,  and  hearts 
filled  with  the  Holy  Spirit,  our  churches  would  make 

334 


MOBILIZING  THE  WORK. 

a  resistless  march,  without  one  wavering  line,  till 
soon  the  world,  with  all  its  business,  all  its  learn- 
ing, all  its  art,  all  its  kingdoms,  would  be  gathered 
up  into  the  one  unified  and  perfected  Kingdom  of 
our  God. 


835 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHUKCH  WORK. 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 

RESULTS   OF   THE   NEW   METHODS. 

Every  good  tree  bringeth  forth  good  fruit,  but  a  corrupt  tre« 
bringeth  forth  evil  fruit.  A  good  tree  cannot  bring  forth  evil  fruit, 
neither  can  a  corrupt  tree  bring  forth  good  fruit.  ,  .  .  Therefore,  by 
their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them. — St.  Matthew. 

Among  the  first  questions  asked  regarding  churches 
which  are  carrying  on  institutional  work  are :  How 
have  the  new  methods  succeeded  ?  What  have  been  the 
spiritual  results?  Is  the  work  a  success  financially? 
These  questions  may  be  said  to  go  to  the  heart  of  the 
matter;  they  at  once  determine  the  kind  of  tree,  whether 
it  be  good  or  evil,  and  the  leaders  in  the  new  move- 
ment willingly  give  answer. 

But  in  noticing  the  results  of  the  new  methods  in 
churches  we  must  bear  in  mind  two  things :  First,  that 
the  new  methods  in  many  of  these  churches  have  suc- 
ceeded where  the  old  methods  failed,  or  that  the  new 
methods  have  met  with  much  larger  results  than  the 
old  methods.  Second,  in  measuring  the  new  methods 
we  must  measure  them  as  we  would  measure  a  projec- 
tile, —  not  only  by  the  work  accomplished,  but  also  by 
the  resistant  force  which  they  have  had  to  overcome. 
It  is  comparatively  easy  to  build  up  a  large  and  strong 
church  where  the  conditions  are  favorable,  —  an  increas- 
ing population  of  a  church-going  and  an  accessible 
people.  But  when,  by  birth  and  training,  environment, 
inaccessibility,  and  other  conditions,  people  are  alienated 
336 


RESULTS   OF  THE  NEW   METHODS. 

and  separated  from  the  Church,  her  task  in  winning  them 
is  far  more  difficult. 

Now,  as  to  some  of  the  results  of  the  new  methods, 
what  are  they? 

The  Central  Presbyterian  Church,  Rochester,  N.  Y., 
Rev.  Henry  H.  Stebbins,  D.D.,  pastor,  has  grown  under 
the  Open  Church  system,  since  Dr.  Stebbins  assumed 
the  pastorate  in  March,  1888,  from  a  membership  of 
885  to  1,688,  and  the  membership  of  the  Sunday-school 
has  grown  from  800  to  over  2,500. 

In  the  Westminster  Church,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  Rev. 
Samuel  Van  Vranken  Holmes,  pastor,  the  gain  in  at- 
tendance at  the  services  of  the  church  under  the  Open 
and  Free  system,  has  been  one  hundred  per  cent,  and 
the  financial  gain  has  been  fully  fifty  per  cent. 

Rev.  G.  R.  Robbins,  pastor  of  Lincoln  Park  Insti- 
tutional Baptist  Church  of  Cincinnati,  O.,  reports  that 
though  that  church  is  poorly  located  and  unattractive 
in  outward  appearance,  God  has  blessed  them  wonder- 
fully. During  the  seven  years  of  institutional  work  the 
membership  has  increased  from  240  to  707. 

Rev.  John  C.  Emory,  pastor  of  the  Waverly  Congre- 
gational Church,  Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  in  answer  to  the 
question,  *'  What  have  been  the  gains,  financially  and 
spiritually,  of  the  new  methods  ?  "  writes :  ' '  Five  times 
as  many  converted  and  uniting  with  the  church.  Col- 
lections double."  In  Mr.  Emory's  address  before  the 
Open  Church  League,  New  York,  1894,  he  said,  in 
speaking  of  his  church :  "  The  income  was  formerly 
each  year  $700  to  $800  behind.  It  is  now  ahead,  and 
a  $25,000  mortgage  is  being  paid  off."  ^ 

Berkeley  Temple,  Boston,  Rev.  Charles  A.  Dickinson, 
D.D.,  pastor,  has  grown  in  seven  years  from  a  mem- 
bership of  about  300  to  over  1,100.     About  half  the 
^  Report  of  League  Conference,  p.  11.. 
22  337 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

additions  have  been  on  confession.  The  congregations, 
which  formerly  numbered  about  250,  now  fill  the  house. 
They  frequently  have  1,500  at  an  evening  service. 
From  8,000  to  12,000  pass  through  their  doors  in  the 
aggregate  during  each  week.  This  church  is  now  the 
largest  church  of  its  denomination  in  New  England. 

Rev.  S.  Sherberne  Matthews,  pastor  of  the  Hanover 
Street  Congregational  Church,  Milwaukee,  says:  "In- 
stitutional methods  have  been  in  use  here  for  some 
three  years,  during  which  time  I  think  the  membership 
has  nearly  doubled." 

Rev.  Warren  G.  Partridge,  pastor  of  the  Ninth  Street 
Baptist  Church,  Cincinnati,  O.,  reports  an  addition  of 
854  members  during  four  years,  and  says,  "We  usually 
have  conversions  every  week  of  the  whole  year." 

The  membership  of  the  Calvary  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  New  York,  Rev.  A.  B.  Kendig,  D.D.,  pastor, 
increased  from  1,200  to  1,500  during  two  years  of  the 
new  methods. 

Dr.  John  L.  Scudder,  pastor  of  the  Congregational 
Tabernacle,  Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  says:  "  Without  these 
methods  we  should  have  died  long  ago,  but  with  them 
we  have  steadily  grown  in  numbers  and  power." 

The  Pilgrim  Congregational  Church  of  Cleveland,  O. , 
has  been  employing  the  new  methods  during  the  five 
years  of  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  Charles  S.  Mills, 
D.D.  During  that  time  they  have  built  a  beautiful 
new  church,  and  undertaken  many  kinds  of  Christian 
work.  Their  morning  congregations  have  increased 
from  250  to  over  600,  and  the  evening  from  100  to 
1,200.  Attendance  on  the  prayer  meetings  has  pro- 
portionately increased.  This  church  is  a  family  church 
as  well  as  a  people's  church ;  and  its  benevolent  work 
is  only  supplementary  to  strong  aggressive  methods  of 
evangelization  and  Christian  nurture,  with  the  result 
338 


RESULTS   OF  THE  NEW  METHODS. 

of  doubling  its  church-membership,  and  increasing  the 
Sunday-school  from  680  to  1,250. 

St.  George's  Episcopal  Church,  New  York,  Rev.  W. 
S.  Rainsford,  D.D.,  rector,  inaugurated  some  forms  of 
institutional  work  in  1882.  At  that  time  the  church- 
membership  had  dwindled  down  to  not  more  than 
seventy-five  communicants.  The  neighborhood  was 
becoming  more  and  more  a  tenement-house  district,  and 
the  outlook  for  the  church  was  very  unpromising.  To- 
day, under  the  new  methods,  there  are  about  4,000 
communicants.  Of  these.  Dr.  Rainsford  says,  "four- 
fifths  live  in  boarding-houses  and  tenement  houses. 
More  than  half  are  genuine  working-people  whose 
daily  bread  depends  upon  the  work  of  their  hands." 
In  St.  George's  Sabbath-school  there  are  3,000  chil- 
dren, and  more  might  be  gathered  if  there  were  suffi- 
cient accommodations. 

Grace  Baptist  Church,  Philadelphia,  Rev.  Russell  H. 
Conwell,  D.D.,  pastor,  inaugurated  institutional  work 
in  1887.  Since  then  they  have  built  the  beautiful  new 
Temple,  have  founded  the  Temple  College  and  the 
Samaritan  Hospital,  besides  carrying  on  all  the  other 
work  of  the  church.  The  total  amount  expended  has 
been  more  than  $300,000.  This  amount  has  not  been 
given  in  large  donations.  It  has  been  the  result  of  self- 
denial  on  the  part  of  the  members,  many  of  whom  are 
of  the  working-class.  It  has  meant  walking  instead  of 
riding,  doing  without  luxuries  and  even  things  that  al- 
most seemed  necessities.  It  has  meant  the  enlistment 
of  childish  interest  so  that  the  children's  contributions 
swelled  the  fund.  Along  with  this,  hand  in  hand,  was 
the  increase  in  church-membership  and  all  good  works. 
There  were  899  church-members  in  1887 ;  now  there  are 
about  2,600. 

The  Armour  Mission,  Chicago,  has  also  been  blessed 
339 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

with  large  increase.  The  prominent  religious  feature 
of  this  institution  is  the  Sunday-school.  When  the 
beautiful  Armour  Mission  building  was  completed  and 
swung  wide  its  door  of  welcome  on  the  Sabbath  of 
December  5,  1886,  the  Mission  Sunday-school  of 
Plymouth  Church,  two  blocks  away,  was  invited  to 
make  the  spacious  Armour  Building  its  home.  This 
invitation  was  accepted,  the  new  mission  Sunday-school 
opening  with  a  membership  of  500.  The  enrolment  of 
this  Sunday-school  at  the  present  time  is  over  2,200. 

The  Madison  Avenue  Presbyterian  Church,  New 
York,  Rev.  Charles  L.  Thompson,  D.D.,  pastor,  has 
had  four  years  of  Open  Church  work.  In  his  last 
anniversary  sermon  Dr.  Thompson  said :  "  During  the 
four  years  we  have  been  engaged  in  this  work  we  have 
contributed  for  benevolent  purposes  a  total  of  $20,851,- 
and  for  our  own  work  $74,787,  making  a  grand  total 
for  all  purposes  of  $95,638.  ..  .  All  but  perhaps  $8,000 
of  the  total  has  been  given  by  our  own  people,  and  on 
a  purely  voluntary  principle.  .  .  . 

"  During  the  past  four  years  we  have  received  302 
new  members :  152  by  examination  and  150  by  letter 
from  other  churches.  .  .  .  The  noblest  thing  by  far  that 
has  been  achieved  in  these  four  years  of  sti-uggle 
has  been  the  development  of  a  rare  spirit  of  Christian 
service." 

''The  Outlook"  for  June  30,  1894,  in  an  article 
"  Spirituality  and  the  Institutional  Church,"  by  the 
Rev.  William  Cross  Merrill,  presents  some  interesting 
statistics  as  to  the  work  of  the  Berkeley  Temple,  Bos- 
ton, and  other  churches  employing  similar  methods. 
It  is  as  follows:  "The  Berkeley  Street  Church  fur- 
nishes the  history  of  a  long  and  arduous  struggle  for 
survival  in  a  rapidly  changing  environment.  Mean- 
while it  enjoyed  pastoral  leadership  of  exceptional 
340 


RESULTS  OF   THE  NEW  METHODS. 

ability,  and  yet,  some  eight  years  ago,  it  became  the 
deliberate  conviction  of  the  ablest  judges  that  the  field 
must  be  abandoned.  To  some  church  about  to  surren- 
der its  field  of  labor,  it  may  be  of  interest  to  compare 
the  last  six  years  of  the  Berkeley  Street  Church  with 
the  first  six  years  of  its  institutional  work  as  Berkeley 
Temple.  The  table  gives  the  year,  membership,  addi- 
tions by  conversion,  percentage  of  gain  by  conversion, 
and  gain  over  all  losses  by  letter  and  conversion :  — 


BERKELEY  STREET   CHURCH,  1882-1887. 


Tear. 

Members. 

Received  on 
Confession. 

Percentage 
of  Gain  on 
Confession. 

Percentage  of 
Net  Gain  by 
Letter  and 
Confession. 

1883 
1883 
1884 
1885 
1886 
1887 

604 
598 
595 
597 
597 
605 

16 
2 
15 

7 
17 
12 

2.65 

.33 

2.52 

1.17 

2.88 
1.98 

2.45 

(1.00)  loss 
1.51 

.33 

.83 

.50 

Totals. 

... 

•• 

11.53 

4.62 

BERIvELEY  TEMPLE,    1888-1893. 


Tear. 

Members. 

Received  on 
Confession. 

Percentage 
of  Gain  on 
Confession. 

Percentage  of 
Net  Gain  by 
Letter  and 
Confession. 

1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1893 
1893 

590 
597 
711 
812 
894 
957 

26 
31 
66 
63 
52 
51 

4.41 
5.19 
9.28 
7.76 
5.82 
5.39 

14.40 
12.56 
13.22 
12.32 
9.39 
6.45 

Totals. 

37.85 

68.34 

1894 
1895 

1020 
1063 

62 
39 

6.07 
3.66 

6.17 
4.041 

1  The  statistics  for  the  years  1894  and  1895  I  have  added  to 
those  given  by  the  "  Outlook,"  for  the  purpose  of  showing  what 
has  been  the  continued  increase  in  the  membership  of  Berkeley 
Temple. 

341 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

'*  This  is  a  comparison  of  a  church  with  itself  under 
old  and  new  methods  of  activity.  As  Berkeley  Temple, 
working  under  the  Divine  injunction,  '  Go  ye  into  the 
highways  and  hedges,  and  compel  them  to  come  in, 
that  my  house  may  be  full,'  its  accessions  on  confes- 
sions are  more  than  three-fold,  and  its  total  net  gain  is 
almost  fifteen-fold.  .  .  .  Berkeley  Temple  has  had 
unusual  difficulties  to  encounter,  and  yet  the  test  is 
most  favorable  to  the  modern  methods  of  work.  Let 
us  take  four  other  institutional  churches,  widely  sepa- 
rated, under  more  favorable  conditions,  figuring,  as 
before,  the  percentage  of  gain  by  confession  on  the 
basis  of  membership  less  absentees.  We  take  the 
years  1887-1892,  and  the  churches  Pilgrim,  Worces- 
ter ;  Fourth,  Hartford ;  Tabernacle,  Jersey  City ;  Ply- 
mouth, Milwaukee,  and  the  combined  Congregational 
churches  of  the  United  States,  of  course  not  deducting 
the  absentees  from  the  latter.  Should  that  seem  just, 
however,  a  little  less  than  one  per  cent  would  be  added 
(about  .93). 


Pilgrim, 
Worcester. 

Fourth, 
Hartford. 

Tabernacle, 
Jersey  City. 

Plymouth, 
Milwaukee. 

United  States, 
combined. 

1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1893 

18.54 
7.86 
3.83 
5.15 

12.38 
3.75 

20.83 
4.87 
10.75 
11.56 
9.34 
9.47 

16.81 
9.23 
9.19 

22.01 
3.84 
5.71 

14.79 
10.94 
5.73 
5.57 
8.44 
1.05 

8.99 
5.47 
5.95 
5.44 
5.83 
5.82 

Totals. 

51.51 

66.82 

66.79 

46.52 

37.50 

Annual 

Average. 

}S.5S 

11.14 

11.13 

7.75 

6.25 

"  Had  all  the  Congregational  churches  of  the  United 
States  attairied  the  same  average  of  gain  on  confession 
during  these  six   years,  with  the  institutional  churches, 
342 


BESULTS   OF  THE  NEW  METHODS. 


it  would  have   increased   their  total    by   a    hundred 
thousand  converts." 

I  add  to  the  above  table  given  by  the  "  Outlook" 
statistics  for  the  years  1894  and  1895,  which  show  that 
these  churches  have  continued  to  realize  about  the  same 
relative  increase  on  confession  as  during  the  previous 
years  of  the  new  methods. 


Pilgrim, 
Worcester. 

Fourth, 
Hartford. 

Tabernacle, 
Jersey  City. 

Plymouth, 
Milwaukee. 

United  States, 
combined. 

1893 
1894 
1895 

5.66 
6.16 
4.36 

5.62 
9.25 
9 

6.24 

8.84 
2.52 

17.10 

1 

3.05 

5.59 
6.09 
5.34 

It  is  to  be  said  that  some  of  the  churches  carrying  on 
this  larger  work  are  unable  from  the  contributions  of 
their  own  membership  to  meet  the  heavy  expenses  in- 
volved. We  could  hardly  expect  it  to  be  otherwise 
with  those  churches  situated  in  down-town  districts  and 
whose  constituency  is  lari,^ely  of  the  laboring-class. 
But  the  large  spiritual  results  attendant  upon  institu- 
tional work,  together  with  the  leavening  and  uplifting 
influence  that  comes  with  the  personal  touch  of  these 
churches  upon  the  community,  commends  the  movement 
to  those  congregations  which  have  the  means  to  place 
such  work  among  needy  people. 

It  must  not  be  inferred  from  this  remark,  however, 
that  many  churches,  and  in  fact  the  majority  of  those 
churches  which  are  trying  to  "  heal  "  and  to  "  teach  ■* 
as  well  as  to  "  preach,"  are  not  meeting  their  expenses 
from  the  gifts  of  their  people.  Many  such  churches 
have  proven  not  only  that  the  consecration  of  their 
people  is  equal  to  all  the  demands  of  this  great  work, 
1  No  report  in  the  Congregational  Year  Book. 

343 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

but  also  that  the  gifts  of  their  people  to  missions,  be- 
nevolences, and  Church  Boards  was  showing  an  annual 
increase.  The  promise,  in  more  ways  than  one,  has 
been  fulfilled  unto  these  churches  :  "  Give,  and  it  shall 
be  given  unto  you ;  good  measure,  pressed  down,  and 
shaken  together,  and  running  over,  shall  men  give  into 
your  bosom.  For  with  the  same  measure  that  ye 
mete  withal  it  shall  be  measured  to  you  again."  ^ 

1  Luke  vi.  38. 


344 


INSPIRATION  OF  THE  NEW  MOVEMENT. 


CHAPTEK  XLIV. 

THE  INSPIRATION   OF   THE  NEW  MOVEMENT  AND  THE 
REALIZATION   OF  THE   KINGDOM. 

There  is  no  mistaking  the  fact  that  our  churches  are 
tremulous  with  the  mighty  spirit  of  a  new  life.  We 
have  seen  that  the  Church,  under  the  stimulus  of  the 
new  movement,  is  yet  "holding  fast  to  that  which  is 
good,"  but  that  along  with  this  there  is  *'  life  more 
abundantly."  Co-existent  with  the  larger  conception 
of  the  humanitarian  and  civic  mission  of  the  Church, 
it  has  been  ordained  that  there  should  be  a  deepen- 
ing of  the  spiritual  life  of  the  members  of  the  Church 
of  Christ.  Never  throughout  the  whole  Christian  era 
has  there  been  such  eager  seeking  for  the  life  of  privi- 
lege, or  so  wide-spread  and  deepening  appreciation  of 
the  gift  and  office  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  The  tendency, 
therefore,  is  not  that  the  material  will  overshadow 
the  spiritual  in  the  life  of  the  Church,  but  that  the 
sphere  of  the  sacred  will  be  extended  to  all  secular 
life,  and  all  things  held  in  holy  trust  for  God,  "whose 
we  are  and  whom  we  serve."  ^  The  new  movement 
comes,  then,  with  this  double  gift  (the  larger  con- 
ception of  the  mission  of  the  Church,  and  a  larger 
reliance  on  the  presence  and  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit), 
and  comes  into  the  closing  century  with  such  force 
and  with  such  promise  in  the  sweep  of  its  power,  and 

1  Acts  xxvii.  23. 
345 


MODERN  METHODS  IN   CHURCH  WORK. 

under  the  impulse  of   bo  mighty  an   inspiration,  as 
only  the  Infinite  can  supply. 

The  new  movement,  too,  finds  inspiration  in  the 
time  of  its  coming.  We  are  familiar  with  the  three- 
fold preparation  for  the  coming  of  the  Messiah.  The 
intellectual  preparation  by  the  Greeks,  or  the  use  of 
the  Greek  language  as  the  common  vehicle  of  thought; 
the  political  preparation  by  the  Romans  through  their 
almost  universal  empire;  the  religious  preparation  by 
the  Jews,  or  the  preservation  of  the  monotheistic 
idea.  Similarly  it  may  be  said  that  there  has  been  a 
threefold  preparation  for  the  new  religious  life  and 
work  in  our  churches. 

1.  The  first  preparation  is  the  religious  prepara- 
tion, or  the  deepening  of  the  spiritual  life  and  the 
conception  of  the  larger  mission  of  the  Church  to 
which  we  have  referred. 

2.  The  intellectual  preparation.  The  great  doc- 
trines of  the  Church  were  fought  out  in  the  early 
centuries  of  the  Christian  era.  The  fires  of  polemi- 
cal discussions  wrapped  their  flames  about  the  very 
life  of  the  Church;  that  it  stood  such  stress  is  un- 
answerable argument  for  its  divine  origin.  Some- 
times the  fires  of  controversy  have  been  fanned 
anew,  and  have  shot  their  flames  into  succeeding 
centuries;  in  notable  instances  the  Church  has  risen 
out  of  these  trials  greater  in  power,  and  adorned 
with  a  purer,  sweeter,  and  a  nobler  life,  —  but  at 
other  times  the  Church  has  suffered  irreparably!  We 
have  appreciated,  even  in  some  of  these  latter  days, 
what  Gibbon  wrote  of  the  early  Church,  "that  the 
Christians,  in  the  course  of  their  intense  dissensions, 
have  inflicted  far  greater  severities  on  each  other 
than  they  had  experienced  from  the  zeal  of  infidels."  * 

1  Mikoan's  Gibbon's  Rome,  vol.  ii.  p.  84- 
346 


INSPIRATION   OF   THE   NEW   MOVEMENT. 

But  there  has  come  a  hopeful  change.  The  Church  is 
weary  of  controversy;  weary  of  dry  doctrinal  discus- 
sions, this  quibbling  over  the  "nice  sharp  qualities 
of  the  law;  "  talking  about  things  of  which,  as  Rev. 
Dr.  Parkhurst  has  said,  "We  none  of  us  know  much, 
and  most  of  us  know  nothing,  and  none  of  us  need 
know  anything."^  That  the  great  body  of  believers 
to-day  are  weary  and  impatient  with  the  controver- 
sialists is  indicative  of  intellectual  and  spiritual 
growth.  If  it  be  argued  that  "the  schools"  still 
seem  powerful,  it  may  be  answered  that  things  are 
not  always  what  they  seem.  It  has  been  said  of  the 
heathen  temples  in  Rome  that  they  were  never  so  mag- 
nificent, seemingly  so  powerful,  as  when  Jesus  Christ 
came;  yet  when  he  came,  great  Pan  was  dead.  The 
controversialists  and  the  schools  have  built  some 
great  temples  for  the  thought  and  faith  of  the  Church 
that  yet  stand;  but  the  polemic,  so  far  as  having 
voice  or  sway  over  the  life  and  heart  of  the  Church, 
is  dead.  The  Church,  too,  is  weary  of  formalism, 
which  has  forced  silent  assent  to  Ouida's  charge,  that 
Christianity  has  become  a  shibboleth,  a  husk,  a  robe, 
with  no  heart  beating  within  it.^  The  Church,  there- 
fore, is  longing  to-day,  as  never  before,  for  truth  and 
life  in  all  simplicity,  in  the  helpfulness,  hopeful- 
ness, and  power  found  in  the  Son  of  Man. 

Another  thing  that  marks  the  intellectual  prepara- 
tion for  the  new  movement  is  the  return  to  Christ 
that  characterizes  the  nobler  scholarly  thought  of  our 
time,  and  is  noticeably  the  impulse  of  New  Testa- 
ment critics,  and  of  what  is  called  the  new  school  of 
ecclesiastical  historians.  "Those  who  are  interested 
in  a  new  theological  habitation  for  faith,"  says  Rev. 

1  Orthodoxy  versus  Heresy,  or  the  Indwelling  Christ,  p.  17. 

2  North  American  Review,  February,  1891,  p.  211. 

347 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

Dr.  George  A.  Gordon,  ''who  seek  emancipation  from 
the  bondage  of  mediaeval  opinion,  who  want  the 
modern  world  of  life  in  all  its  richness  and  compass 
to  be  mastered  by  adequate,  ultimate  conceptions  of 
God  and  man,  are  on  a  deep  return  to  Christ.  The 
longing  for  the  true  word  of  Jesus,  the  desire  to  reach 
the  creative  mind  underlying  Christendom,  the  hun- 
ger for  help  in  the  task  of  interpreting  the  world  and 
its  life,  is  the  great  motive  in  the  characteristic  criti- 
cism, historical  research,  and  theological  construction 
as  at  present  carried  on  by  Christian  scholars.  The 
ultimate  problems  of  reason  are  so  difficult,  the  final 
questions  of  faith  are  so  urgent  and  perplexing,  that 
along  a  score  of  different  lines  Christian  thinkers  are 
returning  to  their  Master.  It  is  felt  more  and  more 
that  there  can  be  no  substitutes  in  creeds,  in  church 
authority,  in  patristic  tradition,  in  apostolic  inter- 
pretation, for  him,  and  that  without  him  there  can  be 
no  solution  of  our  human  problem."  ^  Thus  the  theo- 
logical demand  is  for  the  simple  teachings  of  Jesus, 
stripped  of  the  metaphysics  that  has  clouded  them, 
that  they  may  stand  forth  in  the  singleness  of  their 
divine  majesty. 

Another  thing  that  marks  the  intellectual  prepara- 
tion is  the  demand  for  a  return  to  Christ's  ways  of 
working.  We  have  seen  that  the  Church,  in  depart- 
ing from  those  ways,  in  following  Christ  only  in  part, 
has  not  fulfilled  its  mission;  as  a  result,  institutions 
have  sprung  up  outside  the  Church  for  doing  the  work 
which  it  should  have  done;  and  though  addressing 
herself  mainly  to  the  spiritual  mission,  the  results, 
as  we  have  seen,  have  been  pitifully  small.  This 
being  so,  and  with  the  Church  now  perceiving  more 
clearly  the  meaning  of  the  teachings  and  life  of  Jesus 

1  The  Christ  of  To-day,  p.  248. 
348 


INSPIRATION  OF  THE  NEW  MOVEMENT. 

Christ,  it  is  not  strange  that  the  cry  of  the  Church, 
from  child  to  scholar,  is  for  the  spirit  of  the  Master 
and  for  a  return  to  the  "Christianity  of  Christ." 

3.  The  political  preparation.  Never  was  the  world 
so  ready  for  the  gospel  of  Jesus  as  now.  Anarchism 
in  Spain,  socialism  in  Germany,  nihilism  in  Russia, 
Turkish  atrocities  in  Armenia,  revolutionary  upris- 
ings in  nations,  and  social  disturbances  in  our  own 
country,  all  tell  one  and  the  same  story.  These 
various  conditions  and  expressions  of  unrest  are  like 
the  flushed  face  and  the  quickened  pulse  of  a  man 
stricken  with  fever.  They  are  symptoms  of  a  disease, 
and  it  is  a  disease  that  is  at  the  bottom  of  all  our 
social  ills,  and  the  cause  of  all  the  world's  sufferings. 
The  trouble  is  a  spiritual  one.  It  is  because  a  cer- 
tain moral  leprosy  has  taken  away  the  nobler  sen- 
timents of  love,  self-sacrifice,  and  kindness,  that 
nations  are  disturbed,  and  the  social  systems  of 
the  world  are  threatened  with  grave  and  imminent 
danger.  Take  our  own  country,  for  example.  We 
have  heard  the  cry  of  suffering,  and  in  an  appalling 
manner  have  felt  the  dangers  of  social  unrest  and 
class  distinction.  Some  have  dared  to  say  that  more 
money  was  our  need,  but  time  has  shown  that  the 
need  of  our  country  is  not  money.  We  are  the 
wealthiest  nation  in  the  world.  Neither  is  our  need 
legislation.  We  have  been  legislated  to  death;  men 
are  afraid  of  legislation.  But  how  about  liberty?  Is 
not  that  the  cure-all  of  our  ills?  "The  curse  of  our 
time,"  says  the  anarchist,  "is  law."  Let  us  then 
remove  all  law,  start  life  anew,  make  an  equal  dis- 
tribution of  the  nation's  wealth.  How  long  will  it 
remain  equalized?  The  improvident  man  would  feast 
to-day  and  be  bankrupt  to-morrow,  the  indolent  would 
lie  by  until  his  fund  was  exhausted,  while  the  careful 
349 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

manager  would  gradually  add  to  his  wealth ;  in  a  few 
hours  the  conditions  of  life  would  be  as  uneven  as 
they  are  now.     Said  Dr.  Johnson,  — 

**  How  small  of  all  that  human  hearts  endure, 
That  part  which  kings  or  laws  can  cause  or  cure."  i 

When  Dr.  Johnson  uttered  these  words,  over  a  hun- 
dred years  ago,  the  people  were  complaining,  as  now, 
that  liberty  —  fewer  laws  —  was  their  great  need,  and 
Dr.  Johnson  was  denounced  for  fifty  years  for  speak- 
ing as  he  did.  It  was  claimed  that  he  spread  a  gloom 
over  life  and  prevented  progress  from  being  made; 
but  time  has  shown  the  wisdom  of  his  words.  Many 
reforms  contended  for  at  that  time  have  been  carried 
through.  True,  we  have  advanced  somewhat,  yet 
there  is  just  as  much  suffering,  and  in  many  cases  as 
keen  a  sense  of  social  wrongs,  as  one  hundred  years 
ago.  Mob  rule  in  place  of  law  and  order  will  but 
aggravate  instead  of  ameliorate  our  suffering.  The 
questions  of  liberty,  law,  and  a  medium  of  exchange 
have  a  grave  bearing  on  the  welfare  of  our  people  and 
country,  but  we  cannot  by  legislation  make  men  just, 
honest,  or  kind.  As  a  nation  we  may  legislate  until 
the  end  of  time,  have  the  soundest  monetary  system 
in  the  world,  but  only  as  the  Golden  Rule  is  operative 
in  our  individual  and  civic  life  will  our  ills  find  per- 
manent relief.  The  heart  of  faith  and  love  is  the 
solution  of  all  of  our  diflSculties.     As  Burns  says,  — 

"  It 's  no  in  titles  nor  in  rank, 
It 's  no  in  wealth  like  Lon'on  bank, 

To  purchase  peace  and  rest ; 
It 's  no  in  making  muckle  mair : 
It 's  no  in  books,  it 's  no  in  lear, 

To  make  us  truly  blest : 

*  Lines  added  to  Goldsmith's  "  Traveller.*' 
350 


INSPIRATION  OF   THE  NEW  MOVEMENT. 

li  happiness  hae  not  her  seat 

And  centre  in  the  breast, 
We  may  be  wise,  or  rich,  or  great, 
But  never  can  be  blest : 
Nae  treasures  nor  pleasures 

Could  make  us  happy  lang : 
The  heart  aye 's  the  part  aye 

That  makes  us  right  or  wrang."  i 

Men  the  world  over  have  looked  to  legislation,  to 
a  mechanical  readjustment  of  the  social  system,  have 
looked  to  "things"  for  relief  from  suffering  and  for 
the  realization  of  hopes.  But  all  these  various  means 
have  failed,  and  now  humanity  lies  bleeding  at  the 
feet  of  her  own  broken  idols.  The  world,  as  never 
before,  is  realizing  that  only  as  men's  hearts  are 
right  can  we  have  a  government  that  is  just,  only  as 
men's  hearts  are  noble  will  they  refrain  from  that 
which  is  ignoble;  is  realizing  that  the  present  suffer- 
ing of  the  world  will  be  permanently  relieved  only  as 
men  get  back  to  faith  in  Grod!  The  world  is  passing 
through  a  great  moral  crisis,  and  is  hungering  and 
yearning  for  life  as  found  in  Jesus  Christ.  With 
the  political  world,  therefore,  waiting  for  the  com- 
fort and  help  of  Christ's  gospel,  with  the  deepening 
of  the  spiritual  life  of  the  Church,  and  the  apprehen- 
sion of  its  larger  mission,  and  with  Christian  thinkers 
demanding  a  return  to  the  spirit  of  our  Master,  — 
with  all  this  we  see  that  the  times  are  ripe  for  a  great 
onward  movement  of  God's  people;  it  is  the  hour 
of  opportunity  for  the  Church!  But  there  is  yet  a 
greater  stimulus  which  should  be  mentioned  in  this 
connection. 

It  is  in  the  person  and  work  of  Jesus  Christ  that 
the  creative,  formative,  and  comprehensive  spirit  of 

1  Epistle  to  Davie,  a  Brother  Poet. 
351 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

the  new  movement  in  church  and  Christian  life  is 
found.  Saul,  the  persecutor  of  the  Church,  only 
needed  to  be  brought  face  to  face  with  Jesus  Christ 
to  receive  that  impulse  and  inspiration  which  made 
him  a  tireless  apostle.  Those  active  in  the  new 
movement  have  been  stirred  by  a  vision  no  less  real 
than  Paul's.  They  have  seen  the  gracious,  compas- 
sionate Christ  who  wept  over  Jerusalem,  weeping  over 
the  cities  of  our  own  land.  They  have  heard  the 
same  Jesus  who  went  about  healing  the  sick,  minis- 
tering to  the  poor,  caring  for  the  impotent,  ignorant, 
and  sinful,  saying,  *' As  my  Father  hath  sent  me,  even 
so  send  I  you,"  ^  and  they  have  heard  the  Christ  who 
gave  himself  a  sacrifice  for  others,  say,  "Love  one 
another,  as  I  have  loved  you."  ^  The  vision  is  of  the 
Christ  whom  we  cannot  disassociate  from  the  miseries 
and  needs  of  men ;  and  the  Church  to-day,  which  seeks 
to  alleviate  human  suffering  and  endeavors  to  meet 
men's  miseries  and  needs,  has  gone  to  the  bottom  of 
the  whole  question  of  reaching  the  masses.  The 
new  movement  is  trying  to  represent,  or  re-present 
Jesus  Christ,  both  in  his  putting  away  disease  and 
demons,  sufferings  and  limitations,  and  in  his  posi- 
tive work  of  putting  a  new  life  within;  in  human-- 
itarian,  beneficent,  and  philanthropic  as  well  as 
spiritual  work,  therefore,  the  supporters  of  the  new 
movement  find  inspiration  in  doing  the  will  of  Him 
that  sent  them. 

The  new  movement  finds  another  inspiration  in  the 
greatness  of  the  work  that  yet  awaits  the  Church. 
The  world  is  white  unto  the  harvest.  Out  of  the 
fifteen  hundred  million  of  the  earth's  population,  but 
five  hundred  million  are  even  nominal  Christians;  in 
our  own  country  but  twenty-one  million  of  our  popu- 

1  John  XX.  21.  2  John  xv.  12. 

352 


INSPIRATION  OF   THE  NEW  MOVEMENT. 

iation  (countiDg  Protestants  and  Catholics,  who  in* 
elude  children)  are  Christian  people. 

There  is  further  inspiration  in  that  the  greatness 
of  the  opportunity  and  the  magnitude  of  the  work 
quicken  the  feeling  of  insufficiency,  and  press  the 
worker  "back  upon  the  Infinite  inspirations."  This 
is  working  as  Jesus  worked,  who  was  constantly  giv- 
ing of  his  life  freely,  and  was  as  constantly  replenish- 
ing his  life  through  unbroken  communion  with  the 
Father.  The  larger  the  Saviour's  work,  the  more  did 
he  give  himself  to  meditation  and  prayer.  It  is  sig- 
nificant that  it  was  at  the  close  of  days  of  hardest 
toil,  when  weary,  exhausted  by  the  work  of  the  day 
in  caring  for  the  sick,  the  needy,  the  ignorant,  the 
sinful,  that  Jesus  went  apart  to  pray,  to  renew  his 
strength  through  communion  with  the  Father.  The 
greater  and  nobler  our  work,  the  more  do  we  realize 
our  need  of  divine  help.  There  is  a  beautiful  picture 
of  the  Rock  of  Ages,  which  pictures  a  young  woman 
standing  on  a  rock  in  the  midst  of  the  sea,  with  the 
waves  beating  perilously  about  her  feet.  With  one 
arm  she  is  clinging  to  the  cross,  and  with  the  other 
arm  is  lifting  up  a  sister  who  had  fallen  into  the  sea ; 
the  arm  about  the  cross  is  clasped  the  stronger,  as 
with  the  other  she  seeks  the  harder  to  save.  An 
inspiration  in  lifting  people  up  out  of  disease,  igno- 
rance, hindrances,  and  sin  is  that  it  brings  the 
worker  more  closely  to  the  very  heart  of  the  Father, 
and  to  a  life  inseparable  from  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

Again,  the  new  movement  finds  inspiration  in  a 
continuous  spirit  of  revival.  I  do  not  mean  to  imply 
by  this  that  in  the  mind  of  the  Open  Church  advo- 
cates the  day  of  the  evangelist  is  past.  They  wel- 
come the  aid  of  the  evangelist,  but  do  not  wait  for 
him.  It  is  believed  that  the  Holy  Spirit  is  the  gift 
23  353 


MODERN  METHODS  IN  CHURCH  WORK. 

to  the  Church,  and  will  work  through  the  people  per- 
sonally, and  that  God  will  add  to  the  Church  daily 
such  as  should  be  saved. 

There  is  yet  another  inspiration,  that  of  making 
good  the  divine  claim  of  Jesus  Christ.  He  came 
with  the  gift  of  redemptive  love,  and  claimed  the 
world  and  all  things  therein,  —  all  men,  and  all  of 
the  man,  as  the  Father's;  by  going  unto  the  bosom 
of  the  Eternal,  and  there  pleading  his  own  atoning 
work,  he  has  not  abrogated  one  iota  of  that  claim, 
any  more  than  amid  the  hosannas  of  angels  he  has 
lost  one  whit  of  his  suffering,  compassionate  sym- 
pathy. It  was  life  in  its  entirety  that  was  ever 
before  the  eye  of  Jesus,  that  was  ever  the  burden  of 
his  heart!  It  is  life  in  its  entirety,  the  demands  of 
the  social,  physical,  and  spiritual  needs  of  the  world, 
that  summons  the  Church  to-day,  and  is  inspiring  and 
inciting  to  untiring  efforts  and  greatest  sacrifice.  A 
new  life  thrills  the  Church;  and  men  fearless  as  the 
apostles  at  Pentecost  are  holding  that  the  gospel 
must  be  supreme  in  the  control  of  all  life ;  that  there 
must  be  social  and  national  as  well  as  individual 
regeneration;  that  legislation,  law,  business,  com- 
merce, agriculture,  labor,  art,  science,  philosophy, 
schools,  institutions,  universities,  individuals,  society, 
governments,  —  all  must  be  made  subservient  to  the 
great  end  of  establishing  God's  Kingdom.  Never 
was  there  such  unity  of  thought  and  effort  on  the 
part  of  any  body  of  Christian  workers,  never  have 
men  so  truly  comprehended  the  meaning  of  the  life 
of  Jesus  Christ,  or  so  largely  recognized  the  compre- 
hensive claim  of  his  gospel,  or  so  accorded  him  his 
true  place  of  supremacy  in  the  individual,  the  home, 
the  clan,  the  community,  and  the  nation.  Each  new 
day  is  coming  to  us  with  a  new  consecration  of 
354 


THE  REALIZATION  OF   THE  KINGDOM. 

money  and  of  men,  and  the  new  movement  looks  to 
nothing  less  than  the  realization  of  the  Kingdom  of 
God.  But  a  mighty  work  has  yet  to  be  done.  God 
has  honored  this  generation  by  placing  before  them 
an  opportunity  sublime,  awful,  and  grand,  as  was 
never  before  given  to  man.  I  believe  the  Church  uni- 
versal will  rise  to  the  occasion;  and  that  in  the  ful- 
ness and  beauty  of  divine  power  the  Church,  through 
toil  and  sacrifice  with  Jesus  Christ,  through  efforts 
untiring,  through  energy  of  renewed  courage  born  of 
faith  in  a  great  cause,  through  powers  strung  by  the 
demands  of  a  noble  and  life-giving  work,  through 
over-welling  sympathy  for  the  sufferings  and  sins 
and  miseries  of  the  toiling  millions,  through  faith 
in  God,  and  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and 
constrained  in  all  things  by  the  ruling,  reigning 
Christ,  —  the  Church  will,  I  believe,  take  her  place, 
white-robed,  empowered,  crowned,  God's  faithful 
agency,  triumphing  over  all  opposition,  bringing  in 
the  day  of  that  Kingdom  whose  gates  are  praise  and 
whose  walls  are  salvation;  when  "every  star  shall 
point  to  the  Morning  Star,  and  every  rock  to  the 
Rock  of  Ages ; "  when  the  earth  shall  be  filled  with 
His  glory,  "and  they  shall  not  teach  every  man  his 
neighbor,  and  every  man  his  brother,  saying.  Know 
the  Lord :  for  all  shall  know  me,  from  the  least  to  the 
greatest."  ^    The  Kingdom  shall  be  realized. 

1  Hebrews  viii.  11. 


355 


INDEX. 


Abbott,  Rev.  Lyman,  D.D.,  12. 
Aid  Societies,  202-204,  208-209. 
Ailing,  Mr.  Joseph  T.,  167, 168, 172. 
Andrews,  Bishop,  36. 
Argyle,  Duke  of,  9. 
Armour  Institute,  196,  261. 
Armour  Mission,  196,  339. 
Armstrong,  Rev.  E.  P.,  241. 
Assistant  pastor,  304-305. 
Associate  pastor,  304-305. 
Athletics,  apparatus  for,  181. 
Atkinson,  Edward,  267. 
Austin,  III.,  Presbvterian  Church, 

27,  77,  89,  94. 
Auxiliary  League,  Salvation  Army, 

142. 

Bacon,  Lord,  184. 

Bailey,  Rev.  Melville  K.,  158,  298. 

Band  of  Hope,  234,  278. 

Banner  for  Sunday-schools,  237. 

Baptist  Tabernacle,  Boston,  136. 

Baptist  Young  People's  Union,  119, 
120. 

Battalion  Club,  253. 

Bedford,  Bishop  of,  134. 

Beecher,  Rev.  Henry  Ward,  92. 

Belden  Ave.  Presbyterian  Church, 
Chicago,  87. 

Beneficiary  Associations,  296-298. 

Benefit  Association,  Christian  In- 
dustrial, 161. 

Berea  College,  205. 

Berkeley  Temple,  Boston,  72,  94, 
191,  195,  337,  340-342. 


Bethany  College,  196. 

Bethany  Presbyterian  Church,  Phil- 
adelphia, 25,  56,  103,  106,  170, 
196,  295,  297,  304. 

Bicycle  Club,  183. 

Birthday  boxes,  232. 

Book  fund,  114. 

Bowling-alley,  160. 

Boys'  parlor,  212. 

Brick  Church,  Rochester,  N".  Y., 
34,  235,  236,  238,  278. 

Bridgeman,  Rev.  Howard  A.,  315, 
316. 

Bridgeport,  Conn.,  Congregational 
Church,  123. 

Broome  Street  Tabernacle,  New- 
York,  99,  135. 

Brotherhood  of  Andrew  and  Philip, 
163,  166-167,  175. 

Brotherhood  of  St.  Andrew,  136, 
163-166,  175,  294. 

Buffalo  Plan,  145. 

Burlington,  Iowa,  Congregational 
Church,  84. 

Burns,  Robert,  350-351. 

Bryan,  Rev.  W.  S.  Plumer,  D.D., 
229. 

Cadman,  Rev.  S.  P.,  125. 
Cadwell,  Rev.  Newton  W.,  149. 
Calling  report,  219. 
Calvary    Episcopal    Church,   New 

York,  281,  293. 
Calvary  Methodist   Church,  New 

York,  13,  338. 


357 


INDEX. 


Campbell,  Rev.  Frederick,  135. 

Card,  after-meeting,  109  ;  Ailing 
class,  169-171 ;  boys'  club,  252  ; 
chapel,  141;  church  record,  23; 
communicant's,  24,  25  ;  enlist- 
ment, 53  ;  pew,  60-62  ;  prayer 
meeting,  123  ;  record  of  church- 
members,  23  ;  reporting  uncon- 
verted friends,  41  ;  silent  evan- 
gelism, 55  ;  Sunday-school,  230  ; 
Sunday-school  evangelization,  56 ; 
ushers',  64  ;  vestibule,  322. 

Card  Catalogue,  23-24. 

Carpentering  classes,  262-263. 

Carter,  Rev.  William,  83. 

Central  Christian  Church,  Kansas 
City,  Kan.,  294. 

Central  Church,  Rochester,  N.  Y., 
34,  102,  167,  172,  240,  337. 

Central  Congregational  Church, 
Jamaica  Plain,  Boston,  65. 

Central  Metropolitan  Methodist 
Church,  New  York,  117, 125. 

Certificates,  church-members,  53 ; 
Sunday-school,  237. 

Chalmers,  Dr.  Thomas,  9,  35. 

Chamberlain,  Rev.  James  A., 
D.D.,  84. 

Chapman,  Rev.  J.  Wilbur,  D.D., 
56,  297. 

Chatham  Literary  Union,  188. 

Chautauqua  Reading  Circle,  187. 

Chester,  Rev.  Carlos  Tracy,  235. 

Chicago  Mail,  18. 

Christ  Church,  London,  112,  159, 
207. 

Christian  Culture  Course,  120. 

Christian  Endeavor  Society,  119- 
121,  150,  151,  288. 

Christian  Evidence  Society,  134. 

Christian  Industrial  League,  160. 

Christian  Men's  Union,  278,  279. 

Christian  Treasury,  284. 

Christianity,  of  Christ,  3;  growth 
of,  2  ;  influence  of,  2  ;  true  view 
of,  39. 

Church,  children  in,  226-227 ;  co- 
operation of,  332-334;  the  duty 


of,  to  heal  the  sick,  286-287 ;  duty 
of,  to  help  to  av  education,  194- 
195  ;  duty  of,  to  strangers,  58-59, 
67;  effect  on,  of  young  people's 
work,l  J  8-119;  estrangement  from, 
of  working-men,  111;  failure  of, 
in  personal  work,  43, 49 ;  forward 
movement  of,  345 ;  great  work 
awaiting,  352 ;  in  temperance  leg- 
islation, 281-282;  in  the  country, 
153;  men  in,  76 ;  mission  of,  5, 
332;  music  of,  71,  74-75;  open 
doors  of,  19-20;  unification  of 
work  in,  331 ;  up-town  movement 
of ,10 ;  value  of  property  of,  in  Lon- 
don, in  Chicago,  18,  19. 

Church  of  the  Ascension,  New  York, 
237,  276. 

Church  of  the  Covenant,  Washing- 
ton, D.C.,  156. 

Church  of  the  Unity,  Los  Angeles, 
Cal.,  203. 

Clarendon  Street  Church,  Boston, 
73. 

Clark,  Rev.  Francis  E.,  D.D.,  121. 

Clothing  Bureau,  214. 

Club-room  for  young  men,  175. 

Coal  Club,  295. 

Cobb,  Rev.  Henry  Evertson,  D.D., 
229. 

Coffee-houses,  280. 

Collegiate  Reformed  Church,  New 
York,  229. 

Commons,  Prof.  John  R.,  266,  280. 

Congregational  and  Presbyterian 
Church,  Storm  Lake,  la.,  240. 

"  Congregationalist,"  6. 

Conquest  Meetings,  120. 

Conwell,  Rev.  Russell  H.,  D.D.,  5, 
52,  185,  297,  339. 

Cooke,  George  Willis,  8. 

Crawford,  Rev.  William,  74. 

Cumming,  Rev.  Dr.,  40. 

Dager,  Dr.,  188. 

Day,  Rev.  James  Roscoe,  D.D.,  13. 
Deaconesses,  27,  288-290. 
DeCosta,  Rev.  B.  F.,  D.D.,  248. 


358 


INDEX. 


Delaware  Ave.  Baptist  Church,  Buf- 
falo, N.  Y.,  187. 

Dickinson,  Rev.  Charles  A.,  D.D., 
72,  9-i,  191,  195,  337. 

Dike,  Rev.  Samuel  W.,  D.D., 
148. 

Dodge,  Mr.  William  E.,  177. 

Drinking-fountain,  280-281. 

Drummond,  Prof.  Henry,  177,  257, 
258,  259,  260. 

Duncan,  Mr.  W.  A.,  Ph.D.,  239. 

Easter  offering,  314-315. 

Ely,  Prof.  Richard  T.,  39,  292. 

Emerson,  223. 

Emmanuel  ChapellndustrialSchool, 

New  York,  271. 
Emory,  Rev.  John  C,  337. 
Employment  Associations,  205, 293- 

295. 
English,  Dr.  V.  P.,  244. 
Epworth  League,  119-120. 
Evangelical  Alliance,  333-335. 
Evening  Home  for  Girls,  208. 
Evenings  at  Home,  224. 

Faith  Presbyterian  Church,  New 
York,  315.' 

Farrar,  Canon,  310,  313. 

Faville,  Rev.  John,  D.D.,  89-90. 

Fifth  Ave.  Presbyterian  Church, 
New  York,  160. ' 

First  Baptist  Church,  Rockland, 
Mass.,  51. 

First  Congregatior^al  Church,  Ap- 
pleton.  Wis.,  77,  89,   202. 

First  Congregational  Church,  Au- 
rora, 111.,  88. 

First  Congregational  Church,  De- 
troit, Mich.,  200. 

First  Congregational  Church,  El- 
gin, 111.,  85. 

First  Congregational  Church,  Jer- 
sey City,  73. 

First  Congregational  Church,  Lee 
Center,  111.,  88. 

First  Congregational  Church,  Michi- 
gan, Ind.,  231. 


First  Congregational  Church,  Mus- 

kegon,  Mich.,  87. 
First  Congregational  Church,  Owa- 

tonna,  Minn.,  85. 
First    Presbyterian    Church,   Dan- 
ville, 111.,  87. 
First     Presbyterian     Church,    Los 

Angeles,  Cal.,  97. 
First  Presbvterian  Church,  Sterling, 

111.,  84.  ' 
Fishburn,Rev.WilliamH.,D.D.,.324. 
Fisher,  Dr.  C.  Irving,  242,  244. 
Five  Points  Mission,  New  York,  98, 

99. 
Flower  and  Fruit  Missions,  287. 
Flower   Festival   Board ing-House, 

Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  294. 
Food  and  Fuel  Club,  211. 
Fourth      Congregational     Church, 

Hartford,  Conn.,  135,  328,342,343. 
Fresh  Air  Fund,  209-210,  215. 
Frost,  Mrs.  William  G.,  205. 
Frost,  Rev.  William  G.,  Ph.D., 205. 
Frost,  T.  Gold,  182. 

Gibbon,  346. 

Gladden,  Rev.  Washington,  D.D., 
124. 

Goethe,  322. 

Goff,  Rev.  Edward  F.,  88. 

"Golden  Rule,"  120. 

Good  Templars,  278. 

Good-will  Home,  294. 

Gordon,  Rev.  A.  J.,  D.D.,  73. 

Gordon,  Rev.  George  A.,D.D.,348, 

Gordon,  Rev.  W.  C,  231. 

Gospel  push-cart,  136. 

Gospel  tent-meetings,  137. 

Gospel  wagon.  136-137. 

Gough,  John  B.,  98. 

Grace  Baptist  Temple,  Philadel- 
phia, 69,  72,  185,  188,  196,  253, 
288,  297,  329,  3-39. 

Grace  Chapel  and  Clergy  House, 
New  York,  158,  206,  298,  304. 

Grace  Episcopal  Church,  New 
York,  66,  74,  158,  182,  206,  288, 
293,  306. 


359 


INDEX. 


Gradgrind  Club,  187, 188. 
Grant,  Rev.  Percy  S.,  276. 
Greenstone    Presbyterian    Church, 

PuUman,  III.,  35',  157. 
Greer,  Rev.  David  H.,  D.D.,  299. 
Growing  Legion,  231. 
Gj'mnasiums,  178,  181. 

Hadden,  Rev.  Archibald,  87. 
Had  lev,  Col.  Henry  H.,  282. 
Hall,  Dr.,  245. 
Hall,  Rev.  John,  D.D.,  160. 
Hall,  Rev.  Newman,  D.D.,  134. 
Hamlin,  Rev.  Tennis  S.,  O.D.,  156. 
Hammond,  Rev.  E.  P.,  134. 
Handbook  for  Sewing-schools,  271. 
Hanover     Street      Congregational 

Church,  Milwaukee,  338. 
Hanson    Street     Baptist    Church, 

Brooklyn,  35. 
Happy  Sunday  Afternoon,  213. 
Harlem    Reformed    Church,    New 

York,  116. 
Harper's  Magazine,  179. 
Harry  Wadsworth  Club,  253. 
Harvest  Home  Praise  Service,  228- 

229. 
Hastings,  Rev.  Thomas  S.,  D.D., 

125. 
Havergal,  Frances  Ridle}',  75,  107. 
Hawthorne,  Julian,  179. 
Helping  Hand,  204,  205,  206. 
Hill,   Rev.   John  Clark,   D.D.,  27, 

89,  94. 
Hill,  Roland,  133. 
Hoadley,  Rev.  James  S.,  D.D.,  315. 
Hollond     Memorial     Presbyterian 

Church,  Philadelphia,  33,69,  297, 

329. 
Holmes,  Rev.   Samuel  Van  Vran- 

ken,  154,  155,  337. 
Home  Department  of  the  Sunday- 
school,  150-151,  238,  240. 
Hopkins,  Dr.  Mark,  147. 
Horr,  Rev.  Elijah,  D.D.,  125. 
House-to-house  canvass,  value  of, 

30-33;  blank  for,  31;  directions  to 

visitors,  32;  in  the  countrj',  152. 


House-to-house  visitation,  33-37. 

Hoyt,  Rev.  Charles  S.,  86. 

Huff,  Mr.  J.  E.,  229. 

Hull,  H.  S.,  172. 

Huntington,  Bishop,  310,  313,  315. 

Huntington,  Miss  Emily,  264,  269. 

Huntington,  Rev.  Dr.,  306. 

Immanuel    Presb3'terian    Church, 

Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  200. 
"Independent,"  110. 
Institutional  Church,  4,  6,  16-18. 
Invitations  to  strangers,  63, 319-320. 

Jacob  Tome  Institute,  261. 
Jefferson  Park  Presbyterian  Church, 

Chicago,  54,  1.35. 
Jersey  City    Tabernacle,  26,   182, 

279,  327,' 342,  343. 
Johnson,  Dr.,  350. 
Jones,  Rev.  G.  James,  86. 
Judson,  Dr.  Edward,  175,  226. 
Judson  Memorial  Baptist  Church, 

New  York,  294. 

Kendig,  Rev,  A.  B.,  D.D.,  338. 
King,  Prof.  Henry  C,  40,  50. 
Kittridge,  Rev.  Abbott  E.,  D.D., 

124. 
Knights  of  King  Arthur,  253. 
Knights  of  Temperance,  253. 
Knox,  John,  133. 

Ladies'  Parish  Society,  202,  203. 

Lay  assistants,  306. 

Laymen  in  chapels,  143. 

Legal  Bureau,  295. 

Lend-a-hand  Club,  253. 

Letters,  mimeographed,  140-141, 
323 ;  to  attendants  at  chapels,  140 ; 
to  attendants  at  prayer  meetings, 
123-124;  to  strangers,  63. 

Lincoln  Park  Baptist  Church,  Cin- 
cinnati, 231,  329,  337. 

Littlefield,  Rev.  Milton  S.,  175. 

Livingstone,  David,  194. 

Loval  Temperance  Legion,  234, 
278, 


360 


INDEX. 


MacAllister,  Rev.  J.,  240. 

MacAuley,  Jerry,  282. 

Madison  Ave.  Presbvterian  Clmrch, 
New  York,  23,  62,  73,  191,  192, 
217,  222,  319,  340. 

Madison  Ave.  Reformed  Church, 
New  York,  124. 

Marble  Collegiate  Church,  New 
York,  60,  205,  319-320. 

Marklev,  Rev.  J.  Munroe,  88. 

Mason,' Rev.  VV.  A.,  D.D.,  100. 

Matthews,  Rev.  S.  Sherburne,  338. 

Mavwood,  Ill.,Presbvterian  Church, 
86. 

McAII  Mission,  139,  144. 

McBee,  Hon.  Silas,  16. 

McNeil,  Rev.  John,  D.D.,  134. 

McPherson,  Rev.  John,  D.D.,  85. 

Meeker,  Rev.  J.  M.,  D.D.,  123. 

Men's  League,  80. 

Men's  Social  Club,  158. 

Merrill,  Rev.  William  Cross,  340. 

Messemer,  Miss  Marian,  301. 

Meyer,  Rev.  F.  B.,  B.A.,  112,  113, 
159,  160,  207. 

Miller,  Rev.  J.  R.,  D.D.,  70,  297. 

Miller,  Rev.  Rufus  W.,  D.D., 
166. 

Mills,  Rev.  B.  Fay,  106,  109. 

Mills,  Rev.  Charles  S.,  91,  338. 

Mission  bands,  232-234. 

Missionary  banks  and  jugs,  232. 

Missionary  concerts,  127. 

Missionary  societies,  200-202,  209- 
210,  215. 

Mizpah  Chapel,  New  York,  175. 

Monthly  Sabbath  service  for  chil- 
dren,'230. 

Moody,  Dwight  L.,  41,  101,  133, 
140'. 

Mothers'  Christian  Endeavor  Soci- 
ety, 206. 

Mothers'  Meetings,  277. 

Music  in  the  pra^'er  meeting,  126. 

Name  Book,  219,  221. 
New  Mov('ment,  brinsrs  young  men 
into  the  church,  162;  discussion 
36 


of  name  for,  15-21;  continuous 
spirit  of  revival  of,  353,  354  ; 
inspiration  of,  346-355  ;  looks 
to  the  realization  of  the  king- 
dom, 355;  preparation  for,  346- 
350;  represents  Christ,  352  ;  re- 
sults of,  336-344;  succeeds  when 
other  methods  fail,  336. 
Ninth  Street  Baptist  Church,  Cin- 
cinnati, 144,  338. 

Oak     Park,     111.,     Presbyterian 

Church,  86. 
Oberlin,  0.,  prayer  circles,  131-132. 
Ogden,  Mr.  Robert  C,  314,  315. 
Open  Church,  5,  8,  18-21,  353. 
Oswald,  Dr.  Felix  L.,  180,  181. 
Oswego,     N.   Y.,    Congregational 

Church,  61. 
Ouida,  347. 
"  Outlook,"  340,  343. 

Paden,  Rev.  W.  M.,  D  D.,  33. 

Parish  houses,  138,  327-328. 

Park  Congregational  Church,  Grand 

Rapids,  Mich.,  202. 
Park  hurst.  Rev.  Charles  H.,  D.D., 

347. 
Parsons,  Rev.  Willis  E.,  87. 
Partridge,  Rev.  W.  G.,  144,  338. 
Pass-book  for  chapels,  142. 
Pastor's  woman  assistant,  202,  289, 

306. 
Patterson,  Rev.  J.  M.,  122. 
People's  Mission,  New  York,  295. 
People's  Palace,  Jersey  City,  327. 
People's  Tabernacle,  Denver,  Col., 

182. 
Periodical  Club,  186-187. 
Piedmont  Congregational  Church, 

Worcester,  Mass..  125. 
Pike,  Rev.  G.  R.,  35. 
Pilgrim     Congregational     Church, 

Cleveland,  0.,  326,  338. 
Pilgrim     Congregational     Church, 

Worcester,  Mass.,  342,  343. 
Platteville,    Wis.,    Congregational 

Church,  86. 
I 


INDEX. 


PIvmouth      Church,     Milwaukee, 

Wis.,  342,  343. 
Pulpit  paintings,  99-100. 

Question-Box  Meetings,  125. 

Rainsford,  Rev.  W.  S.,  D.D.,  71, 

315,  339. 
Ravenna,0.,CongregationalChurch, 

197. 
Report  of    Church   Committee   on 

strangers,  66. 
Rescue.  Missions,  282-284,  328. 
Reynard,  Rev.  J.  H.,  85. 
Riis,  Jacob,  179. 
Robbins,  Rev.  G.  R.,  337. 
Robertson,  Rev.  F.  VV.,  14. 
Rodstock,  Lord,  134. 
Roll  of  Honor,  237. 
Roof  garden,  328. 
Ruggles    Street    Baptist    Church, 

Boston,  24.  41. 
Russell,  Rev.  Frank,  D.D.,  123. 
Russell,  Rev.  J.  L.,  D.D.,  97. 

Samakitan  Hospital,  288, 

Sanitation  Bureau,  295. 

Schauffler,  Rev.  A.  F.,  D.D.,  10, 
235. 

Schoppe,  Rev.  W.  G.,197, 198,199. 

Schott,  Miss  Mary,  212. 

Scott,  Rev.  R.  D.,  87. 

Scotter,  Mr.  E.,  -262. 

Scudder,  Rev.  H.  M.,  D.D.,  124. 

Scudder,  Rev.  John  L.,  D.D.,  279, 
.338. 

Second  Presbyterian  Church,  Co- 
lumbus, 0.,  324. 

Selden,  Rev.  Joseph  H.,  85. 

Shawmut  Church,  Boston,  224. 

Shelter  of  the  Silver  Cross,  215. 

Sidewalk  Committee,  66. 

Silver  Cross  Club,  212. 

Silver  Cross  Society,  248, 

Simpson  Memorial  Methodist  Tab- 
ernacle, Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  275. 

Sixty-third  St.  Mission,  New  York, 
160. 


Sloyd  System,  261,  263. 

Smith,  Rev.  E.  L.,  87. 

Smith,  William  A.,  255. 

Sparta,  Wis.jCongregationalChurch, 
74. 

Sprague  Memorial  Presbyterian 
Church,  Tacoma,  Wash.,  85. 

Spurgeon,  Rev.  Ctiarles  H.,  133. 

St.Bartholomew'sEpiscopalChurch, 
New  York,  160,  287,  293,  294, 
295,  328. 

St.  Bartholomew's  Mission,  New 
York,  160,  282,  328. 

St.  George's  Chapel,  Liverpool, 
Eng.,  116. 

St.  George's  Episcopal  Church, 
New  York,  73,  136,  186,  253,  295, 
304,  339. 

St.  Luke's  Association,  288. 

St.  Margaret's  Church,  London, 
Eng.,  313. 

St.  Mary's  Church,  Whitechapel, 
London,  Eng.,  134. 

St.  Paul's  Methodist  Church,  Cin- 
cinnati, O.,  123. 

Statistics,  as  to  evening  congrega- 
tions, 85-90 ;  churches  reporting 
no  converts,  47-49  ;  expenses  of 
missions,  144;  growth  of  Chris- 
tianity, 2;  growth  of  cities,  138; 
growth  of  churches  under  new 
methods,  337-340 ;  Home  Depart- 
ment Sunday-school,  239;  loss 
from  waste  and  bad  cooking, 
267;  people  who  have  never 
heard  the  Gospel,  101;  rural 
church-going,  148;  St.  Bartholo- 
mew's Loan  Association.  299; 
work  of  Brotherhood  of  St.  An- 
drew, 164,  166;  young  men  in 
the  penitentiaries,  261:  Young 
People's  Societies,  119.  (See 
"  Table"  for  further  statistics.) 

Stead,  Mr.  W.  T.,  18. 

Stebbins,  Rev.  Henry  H.,  D.D, 
102,  337. 

Stephenson,  George,  194. 

Stewart,  Rev.  Mr.,  134. 


362 


INDEX. 


Strong,  Rev.  Josiah,  D.D.,  7,  17, 
49,  82,  139,  144. 

Sunday  evening  lectures  by  lay- 
men, 97. 

Sunday-school  teachers'  tea,  240. 

"  Sunday-School  Times,"  23b,  241. 

Swimming-baths,  182. 

Table,  showing  average  number  of 
additions  per  church,  and  aver- 
age cost  of  convert  in  four 
denominations  for  live  years,  44- 
45;  showing  average  number  of 
church-members  to  a  convert, 
46-47;  showing  church  commu- 
nicants in  colleges,  162-163; 
showing  comparison  of  live  Con- 
gregational Churches  with  Con- 
gregational Church  at  large, 
342-343;  showing  growth  of  Ail- 
ing Class,  167;  showing  growth 
of  Berkeley  Temple,  Boston,  341; 
showing  work  of  Bible  Class  in 
Tremont  Temple,  Boston,  116. 

Tenement  House  Committee,King's 
Daughters  and  Sons,  291. 

Ten  Times  One  Club,  253. 

Thanksgiving  donation,  228-229. 

Thompson,  Rev.  Charles  L.,  D.D., 
5,  340. 

Three  Rivers,  Mich.,  Presbyterian 
Church,  85. 

Training-class  for  Mission  Workers, 
282-283. 

Tremont  Temple,  Boston,  116. 

Tyndall,  Rev.  C.  H.,  99. 

Tyng,  Rev.  Stephen  H.,  D.D.,  226. 

Visitation  block  or  district  plan 
of,  27;  by  committee  of  Pleasant 
Sunday  afternoon,  115;  by  com- 
mittee of  Mary  and  Martha 
League,  219-220;  b}'  deaconesses, 
3;  by  laymen,  31;  by  ''sub-pas- 
tors," 26. 


Wadsvvokth,  Rev.  Arthur  Leon- 
ard, 51. 
Walla   Walla,    Wash.,    Congrega- 
tional Church,  88. 
Wanamaker,  Mr.  John,  170. 
Water  Street  Mission,  New  York, 

282 
Waverly    Congregational   Church, 

Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  337. 
Welcome   to   strangers   by   church 

officers,  60. 
Wells,  Amos  R.,  121. 
Wesley    Chapel,    Columbus,   Ohio, 

228. 
West  Presbyterian    Church,   New 

York,  125* 
Westfield,     N.     J.,     Presbvterian 

Church,  149. 
Westminster  Presbyterian  Church, 

Buffalo,  154,  319,^337. 
Westminster  Presbyterian  Church, 

Detroit,  Mich.,  122. 
Westminster  Presbyterian  Church, 

San  Francisco,  Cal.,  255. 
White,  Rev.  Frank  Newhall,  84. 
White  Cross  Societv,  247. 
Wight,  Rev.  C.  A.*  86. 
Wilder,  Prof.  B.  G.,  243. 
Willard,  Frances,  280. 
Woffeudale,  Rev.  Mr.,  134. 
Woman's    Christian     Temperance 

Union,  234,  278.  279,  280. 
Woman's  Employment  Association, 

205. 
Woman's  Friendship  Club,  206. 
Woodyard,  283-284,  293. 
Worker's  Handbook,  52-53. 


Young  Crusaders,  253. 

Young  Men's  Christian  Association^ 
178-179. 

Young  Men's  Institute,  157,  158. 

Young  Woman's  Christian  Tem- 
perance Union,  210. 


363 


Princeton  Theoloqical  Semmary-Speer  Library 


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